A war of words has been going on between players, staff, and former cricketers of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka before their clash in the Asia Cup on Thursday as both teams will fight it out for their survival in the tournament.
After both teams lost their opening game to Afghanistan, they must win now to ensure a place in the Super 4.
And the match has been heating up since Sri Lanka’s defeat against Afghanistan when their skipper Dasun Shanaka said Bangladesh only have two world-class bowlers and were the easier opponents.
“Afghanistan has a world-class bowling attack. We know Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman) is a good bowler. Shakib (al-Hasan) is a world-class bowler. But apart from them, there is no world-class bowler in the side. So, if we compare with Afghanistan, Bangladesh is an easier opponent,” Shanaka said.
On Wednesday, in the pre-match press conference, Bangladesh team director Khaled Mahmud replied to Shanaka saying that Bangladesh have two, but Sri Lanka have none.
“It's up to Dasun, why he said that or why he thinks we are (easier opponent). Maybe Afghanistan has a better T20 squad, that's why he said that. He said a lot of other things as well, he said we have only 2 (world-class) bowlers or something. I don't see any in Sri Lanka, at least Bangladesh have two. That's very good. We have at least Mustafizur and Shakib, I don't think they have world-class bowlers like them,” Mahmud said on Wednesday.
In reply to Mahmud’s comments, Sri Lanka legend and former skipper Mahela Jayawardene tweeted that it was time for the Lankan bowlers to display their capability.
“Looks like it’s time for @OfficialSLC bowlers to show the class and batters to show who they are on the field,” he wrote on Twitter.
The latest to join the feud was Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan, who would have been with the side at the Asia Cup if not for his finger injury.
“We are clear favourites tonight in the #AsiaCup2022. It's just a matter of time before we execute our first-class bowling, batting, and team efforts, In Shaa Allah. Let's show who are the better side on the field,” Nurul wrote on Twitter.
The teams will meet in Dubai at 8:00 PM Bangladesh Standard Time.
