Najmul Hossain Shanto hits back at Sri Lanka team after they perform timeout celebration post their series win

Bangladesh all-format skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto asked his Sri Lankan counterparts to forget about and move on from the infamous time-out incident that happened during the 50-over World Cup last year.

Lanka all-rounder Angelo Matthews had become the first-ever batsman to walk off from the middle after getting timed out in the CWC league stage fixture against Bangladesh.

That memory is still fresh in the minds of not just the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka players but also in the fans. The time-out incident has become a wild celebratory gesture among players of the two teams. It was on full display during their 3-match T20I series, especially last night after Sri Lanka clinched the series by 2-1. The Lankans were pointing towards the wrist to mock Bangladesh’s bizarre appeal and that intrigued a brutal dig from Najmul Hossain Shanto.

Sri Lankan players bring out the time-out celebration move, Najmul Hossain Shanto feels they are being obsessive

After the post-match presentation ended, the Sri Lanka players were doing the same time-out celebration that Bangladesh bowler Shoriful Islam had pulled off in the 1st T20I. It served as a chain reaction ultimately. In the final T20I last night, Towhid Hridoy got involved in an ugly spat with Sri Lankan players after someone from the team had said something to a Bangladeshi batter.

The extent was so much so that on-field umpire Tanvir Islam had to intervene and separate Hridoy from the fight. Then the Lankans pulled off the gesture during their title-winning celebrations to which Najmul Hossain Shanto felt they were being too obsessive. He defended Hridoy for not being aggressive and blamed his counterparts for showing the timed-out gesture.

Lanka’s assistant coach Naveed Nawaz provides clarification

After Sri Lanka’s celebration and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s remarks, the assistant coach of the visitors – Naveed Nawaz came up with a clarification. Nawaz replied to Shanto that they have already moved on from the timed-out incident and that their celebration was not interpreted correctly.

“I think we have moved on from that incident. I think it was a celebration that was misunderstood at that time. It was during the heat of the game. Both teams should forget about it.” – Naveed Nawaz told reporters.