Fans from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India kept the pre-match atmosphere light while waiting in the queue to enter the stadium on Thursday. As Bangladesh and Sri Lanka got ready to face off against each other on the ground, a hilarious conversation about their respective team mascots took off outside. While the Sri Lankans identify with lions, the Bangladesh players are called the “Tigers”.
A Bangladesh supporter vowed his team would come back roaring after their defeat to Afghanistan to which a Sri Lankan fan said lions roar, not tigers. Spotting an Indian nearby, another Sri Lankan asked: “When Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have animals as their mascot, why does not India have one too?” After stumbling for an answer, the supporter recovered to say: “The tiger is India’s national animal, but we will consider the peacock (national bird) as a mascot soon.”
The match on the ground was won by Sri Lanka.
Dance & salute
Bangladesh fans celebrate their successes on the field with their infamous naagin (snake) dance, a practice which started during the 2018 Nidahas Trophy in Colombo.
The “dance” started in front of the press box on Thursday as Sri Lankan wickets tumbled. As Ebadot Hossain picked up the wicket of Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka, some fans stood up to salute. Ebadot, who used to be a volleyball player for the Bangladesh Air Force, celebrates his wickets with a customary salute.
Zero to hero
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis, who scored a crucial 60 on Thursday, has had a chequered Asia Cup history.
During the 2018 Asia Cup, which was also held in the UAE, he was dismissed for a duck against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. He was then dropped for the series against England that followed. But the same year he staged a brilliant comeback in Tests, becoming the second player after Virat Kohli to score over 1000 runs that year.
Settling the ‘score’
The giant scoreboard at the Dubai International Stadium has served the fans well. Shenoy Soman is the scorer and he enjoys his job. He carries with him the experience of scoring in Tests, the IPL and the PSL among other tournaments. Shenoy, originally from Mavelikkara in Kerala, came to Dubai in 2002. “Since every act appears on the giant screen right away, one needs good concentration, patience, presence of mind and knowledge of the game. But to score for international matches, especially an India-Pakistan match, is an amazing experience,” he told The Telegraph.
