Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka in their opening match of the ongoing T20 World Cup at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, June 7. The Lankans have already played their first game, suffering a loss to South Africa, and will be eager to move past that setback.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, faces concerns over injuries to key players Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed, which could impact their performance. The matches between these two teams have often been filled with drama and excitement, earning the playful moniker ‘El Nagino’ derbies due to the infamous ‘Naagin’ dance celebrations.
Here, we recount the top three moments from previous encounters between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in T20Is.
#1 Mushfiqur Rahim’s Naagin Dance Celebrations
Mushfiqur Rahim, one of the finest wicketkeeper-batters in international cricket, has played a significant role in intensifying the rivalry between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The seeds of this rivalry were sown during the Nidahas Trophy in 2018, when Bangladesh triumphed over hosts Sri Lanka in a group stage match.
Rahim, along with all-rounder Nazmul Islam, celebrated the victory with an awkward yet memorable snake dance, dubbed the ‘Naagin’ dance. This celebration irked many Lankan supporters. The ‘Naagin’ dance reappeared during a virtual knockout match between the two teams, which Bangladesh won thanks to Mahmudullah’s late heroics. The Bangladesh players repeated the dance, further fueling the rivalry.
#2 Angelo Mathews Getting Timed Out
One of the most controversial moments between these two teams occurred in the ODI World Cup in India last year, involving veteran Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews. Mathews, facing issues with his helmet, failed to take his first ball within the stipulated two minutes.
Bangladesh appealed for a timed-out dismissal, and the umpire, following the regulations, ruled him out. This marked the first instance of a player being dismissed in this manner in international cricket. Mathews’ delayed arrival to the crease due to a broken chin strap led to Shakib Al Hasan’s appeal, resulting in this unprecedented dismissal.
#3 Wristwatch Celebrations from Sri Lanka
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka secured a T20I series win against Bangladesh in the latter’s home country and celebrated in a unique way. After receiving the trophy, the Sri Lankan players gathered around and pointed to their wrists while posing for the official team photo. This gesture was a pointed reference to the timed-out dismissal of Mathews in the ODI World Cup, highlighting the lingering tension between the teams.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto responded to this celebration by emphasizing the adherence to cricket rules, stating, “There is nothing to handle aggressively when it comes to this. I think they are yet to move on from the timed-out dismissal. They should move on and stay in the present since we didn’t do anything outside the rules of cricket. I think they are making a fuss of it, but we are not worried about it.”
