Angelo Mathews defended the Sri Lanka players’ decision not to shake hands with the Bangladesh players after their heated 2023 World Cup encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Tension escalated during the match as Matthews was given a time-out due to an appeal from Shakib Al Hasan. The dismissal was the first in international cricket history and sparked controversy over whether Shakib should have appealed. Matthews needed a new helmet before his first pitch because his chinstrap broke. The umpires reportedly asked Shakib if he wanted to withdraw his appeal, but Shakib chose to do so.
Since then, some heated events have occurred in the game, especially during the chase of Bangladesh. Shakib was dismissed by Charice Asaranka from Matthews before Matthews got a wicket later in the innings. Sri Lankan players were involved in several tense altercations with referees Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth over the ball, with the referee frequently being wedged between the two groups of players.
After the match, Sri Lankan players left the field without shaking hands with their opponents. In his post-match press conference, Matthews defended his decision, saying: “We have to respect the people who respect us. That doesn’t mean we have to respect the game itself. All of us, including the referees. are ambassadors of this beautiful game. So what more can you ask for if you don’t show respect and use common sense?”
Bangladesh’s three-wicket win was their second of the tournament and their first since defeating Afghanistan in the opening match. The defeat officially eliminated Sri Lanka from the semi-finals and hurt their chances of qualifying for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The final match of the tournament will be against New Zealand on Thursday 9th November.
To bet on the World Cup with our Match Centre Partners bet365 head here.
