Following their intense match at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Sri Lankan cricketers declined to engage in a post-match handshake with their Bangladeshi counterparts.
It’s worth noting that Bangladesh ended Sri Lanka’s journey in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 by clinching a three-wicket victory.
However, the match was marred by intense confrontations between players from both teams, which began during the 25th over of Sri Lanka’s innings. Angelo Mathews, the veteran all-rounder, faced a delay when an issue with his helmet’s strap arose.
He raised this concern with the umpire, which led to a dispute with Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, who claimed that Mathews had timed out. In an unusual turn of events, Mathews became the first player to be dismissed in this manner without having faced a ball, as he had exceeded the two-minute limit for taking the crease.
Angelo Mathews displayed no intention of being forgiving, and in a fiery manner, he gave a spirited sendoff to Shakib Al Hasan after dismissing him through a caught-and-bowled effort.
An altercation ensued between Sadeera Samarawickrama and Najmul Hasan Shanto, who played a pivotal role in securing the victory with his 90-run innings, regarding the dismissal of a teammate. It’s worth noting that Shanto had initially approached Shakib Al Hasan and urged him to appeal for a “timed-out” dismissal.
— Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (@Hanji_CricDekho) November 6, 2023
The situation extended beyond the match’s conclusion, as Sri Lankan players chose not to offer their greetings to the Bangladesh team once the game had concluded.
First time i witnessed A cricket match without handshakes at the end
— Rahul.S (@Rahulsarsar177) November 6, 2023
No Handshakes between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh players 🤝#AngeloMatthews Sara Ali Khan#ShakibAlHasan Ananya Pandey#srilankacricketboard Gill #SriLankaCricket press conference https://t.co/kbl2rjiN1i
During the post-match presentation, Angelo Mathews explained their decision not to shake hands with the Bangladesh players, citing a lack of respect both for the Sri Lankan team and the spirit of the sport. The veteran Sri Lankan all-rounder stated, “Respect should be mutual. We all represent this wonderful game, including the umpires. If respect and common sense are not employed, then there’s not much more to expect.”
