Tigers-Lions rivalry keeps intensifying

Many may have been glued to their TV sets to witness the much-awaited clash between the two archrivals India and Pakistan on their opening game of the ICC T20 World Cup yesterday but the day's earlier game had featured two sides -- Bangladesh and Sri Lanka – who have developed a heated rivalry over the years as well.
 
Ever since Chandika Hathurusingha left the Bangladesh team as the head coach and joined the Sri Lankan side back in December 2017, the prerequisite for a tense rivalry was established between the Tigers and the Lankan Lions.
 
And in the following year, the infamous Nidahas Trophy encounter between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had arguably set the tone when the 'Nagin Dance' celebration from the Tigers created a huge buzz in the cricketing world.
 
Once again, the rivalry among the two sides was witnessed as the Super 12 encounter between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was full of hustle and bustle between the players from both teams.
 
This time it was the Lankans who initiated the hostile proceedings when pacer Lahiru Kumara went straight to Liton Das for an ugly face-off after dismissing the opener in the sixth over.
 
The tension in the Sharjah stadium had escalated to new heights as both Liton and Kumara were inches away from a physical contact, where even the non-striking batsman Naim Sheikh ended up pushing the pacer away, before the on-field umpires intervened to restore order. 
 
With the mutual displays of animosity likely to remain strong between the players and supporters of the two teams, the cricketing world can surely expect high-voltage battles whenever Bangladesh face Sri Lanka in the cricket field.