Asia Cup 2018 Final: 5 controversies that rocked India-Bangladesh contest over the years

Dubai: India-Bangladesh cricket rivalry will see another episode on Friday when the teams battle for Asian supremacy at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Bangla Tigers knocked out favourites Pakistan to set up a final meeting with India in Asia Cup 2018. Whenever India and Bangladesh meet, fans get excited. India have dominated the contests over the years and they are expected to repeat in the summit clash.

Ahead of the big final, here are five controversies from India and Bangladesh contests

1. The no-ball controversy in World Cup 2015

The “Men in Blue” were struggling in the World Cup 2015 quarter-final against Bangladesh until Rohit Sharma emerged as the team’s saviour with a superb innings of 137. However, the Bangladeshi side believed that Rohit was to be dismissed on 90 on a ball from Rubel Hossain. However, umpire Ian Gould’s no-ball decision reprieved Rohit. Captain Mashrafe Mortaza had expressed his displeasure over the decision and Bangladesh’s fans too were upset. India knocked out the Bangla Tigers with an easy 109-run victory in Melbourne.

2. Posters make fun of Indian batsmen

In the ODI series against Bangladesh in 2015, India lost 1-2 and a leading daily came up with a poster that was in extremely poor taste. It showed India players with half-shaven heads and left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, the wrecker-in-chief, holding a cutter in his hand.

3. Offensive fan art

Ahead of Asia Cup 2016 final against Bangladesh, a fan art started doing the rounds on social media which depicted fast bowler Taskin Ahmed carrying the severed head of the India captain MS Dhoni. While India did win the final by eight wickets, it severely incensed the Indian fans and shocked many.

4. Mushfiqur Rahim's tweet during 2016 World T20

Bangladesh lost to India by one run in the league phase of 2016 World T20 and Mushfiqur Rahim took to Twitter to express his disappointment and apologised to the fans. However, when India lost to West Indies in the semi-final, Rahim trolled the hosts. Rahim posted a picture of MS Dhoni during the post-match presentation ceremony and tweeted, “Happiness is this…!!! #Ha ha ha…!!! India lost in the semifinal (sic).” While he later apologised for it, the damage had already been done.

5. MS Dhoni elbows debutant Mustafizur Rahman

Dissatisfaction and anger over the previous events simmered in the hearts of Bangladesh team. In the first ODI in Mirpur on June 18, 2015, India 123/4 chasing 308. Skipper MS Dhoni tried to eke out a single, but young pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who eventually added five wickets to his kitty, came in his way on the follow through. Dhoni elbowed the debutant which was out of character from “Captain Cool”. This resulted in Rahman leaving the field for a while. Later, the International Cricket Council (ICC) fined both the players for the on-field collision. Dhoni lost 75% of his match fee while the Bangladeshi had to pay 50% of his. Bangladesh won by 79 runs and Rahman was adjudged Man-of-the-match for his 5/50.