Sri Lanka’s head coach, Chris Silverwood, expressed his positive view on the intense rivalry between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, even though it has sometimes led to heated moments.
The relationship between the players of both teams has been strained since 2018 when a celebratory dance by Bangladesh players sparked controversy. Tensions increased when Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Angelo Mathews with a ‘timed out’ tactic, which Sri Lanka criticized as against the spirit of the game.
After winning the T20I series 2-1, Sri Lanka’s players reprised the ‘timed out’ celebration, causing displeasure among Bangladesh players. Tigers captain Najmul Hossain Shanto suggested that Sri Lanka should move on from the incident since Bangladesh’s dismissal was within the laws of cricket.
Despite the tension, Coach Silverwood sees the rivalry as positive. He acknowledged the competitiveness between the two teams and expects the ODI series, starting Wednesday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, to be equally intense.
Reflecting on the T20 series victory, Silverwood emphasized the importance of momentum, which they aim to carry into the ODI series. He highlighted the ongoing process of building a team for the next World Cup, encouraging players to continue playing strong cricket.
“We’re trying to continue the momentum that we’ve had from the series at home as well in Sri Lanka, where we played some fantastic cricket,” said Silverwood. He emphasized the need for batsmen to score big runs individually and as a team while urging bowlers to improve their skills consistently.