It takes two to tango
It began with one 'nagin dance' but did not end there. It only kept escalating and soon it became an Asian rivalry feisty enough to keep even the most detached Bangladesh cricket fan's eyes glued to the TV. The rivalry between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had been pretty exciting and challenged the levels of determination from both sides but it never quite transpired to the red-ball format, much of it down to Bangladesh's failings in the game's hardest format that is Test cricket.
The exultation of triumphing in close encounters and the celebrations thereafter all became symbolic of the rivalry, which peaked in 2018. Sri Lanka had won a tri-nation series ODI series, clinched a two-match Test series 1-0 and the T20I series 2-0 at the start of the year in the Tigers' den. Nazmul Islam Apu had been known for his 'nagin dance' celebrations in the domestic circuit but during one game in Sylhet, Sri Lanka's Danushka Gunathilaka had mimicked that celebration.
Many may not have remembered but that impersonation triggered something in the Tigers' dressing room, particularly in Mushfiqur Rahim. He retaliated back with venom in the Nidahas Trophy in March that year in a tri-nation T20I series in Sri Lanka that also involved India. Bangladesh toppled Sri Lanka's massive 214 with Mushfiqur playing a big hand in the win and he celebrated with a 'nagin dance' that did not please the Lankan Lions.
The Lions would do their own celebrations in the next game, a virtual semi-final where the winner would take on India. The game went to the wire with plenty happening in the field and the sidelines as Bangladesh successfully chased down Sri Lanka's total with a penultimate delivery six from Mahmudullah Riyad. While Riyad had kept his calm on the field, a no-ball controversy in that eventful last over had seen skipper Shakib Al Hasan almost successfully call his players off the field in protest.
Eventually the game got underway and as Mahmudullah held his nerve, the joy outpoured as the whole Bangladesh outfit celebrated with nagin dance out in the middle. Nurul Hasan, not even in the playing eleven that night, was raging at a few Lankan stars as things got out of hand. Later, images appeared of Bangladesh's dressing room glass being smashed to bits in an electric game.
Much was said later with Shakib putting in a conciliatory tone but the effect of the rivalry was felt in the final when the Sri Lankan crowd supported India in the final against Bangladesh.
"It's not bad to have that kind of rivalry. Sometimes it makes the game more exciting," Bangladesh's current ODI captain Tamim Iqbal would say later about the rivalry. However, the rivalry did not quite get reflected since that series and in the Test format, the results have been pretty one-sided. Till date, Bangladesh have been able to win just one Test against Sri Lanka, the one they won in their 100th Test in Colombo in 2017.
As Sri Lanka come for another tour of Bangladesh, with the first Test slated for May 15, the onus on Bangladesh will be to make something meaningful of the rivalry in the longest format. The shorter formats might have been juiced by the adrenaline rush but in Tests, more calm heads will be required. The two teams are pretty similar in strengths but the Tigers have found some belief in their Test abilities with a win over New Zealand in their home soil.
Playing Sri Lanka at home has always been a tough proposition but the confidence from the resurgent pace battery and a few young batters may just instigate a fire in the Bangladesh dressing room to light up the series.