Asia Cup 2023: WATCH – Shoriful Islam, Kusal Mendis engage in heated altercation before umpire intervenes

The incident took place during the fourth over of the chase.

Shoriful Islam and Kusal Mendis indulged in a verbal spat | ScreengrabBangladesh are taking on Sri Lanka in the second match of Asia Cup 2023 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday (August 31).

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh’s innings folded for a paltry 164 in 42.4 overs. Najmul Hossain Shanto waged a lone battle with the bat, scoring 89 off 122 balls.

Matheesha Pathirana starred with the ball for Sri Lanka, claiming four scalps by conceding 32 runs in his 7.4 overs. Maheesh Theekshana also returned with stunning figures of 2 for 19 in his 8 overs.

Defending the small total, Bangladesh needed their bowlers to strike early and the pace duo of Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam did exactly the same. While Taskin dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne for 1, Shoriful got rid of Pathum Nissanka for 14.

The Bangladeshi fast bowlers were charged up and a heated altercation was witnessed between Shoriful and Sri Lankan batter Kusal Mendis during the fourth over of the chase.

In a video doing rounds on social media, Shoriful Islam can be seen walking towards Mendis after completing his follow-through and saying something, which probably offended the latter.

As Mendis said something in response, Shoriful went near him and had a heated exchange before the umpire intervened and separated the two players.

Here’s the video:

 

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 31 Aug, 2023

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