Bangladesh players gave retiring Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews a guard of honour as he walked out to bat in his farewell Test at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday.
The gesture came during the 52nd over of Sri Lanka’s first innings, when Mathews, 38, made his way to the crease following the dismissal of Dinesh Chandimal. As he stepped onto the field, Bangladesh players and match officials formed two lines, applauding the veteran cricketer in what was a symbolic and respectful nod to his contributions to the game.
Visibly moved, Mathews acknowledged the tribute by raising his hand towards the Bangladeshi players before taking his position at number four. The players then dispersed to their fielding positions, allowing the game to resume.
The show of respect was especially noteworthy given the acrimonious history between the two sides, particularly the controversial timed-out incident involving Mathews during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
In that incident, Mathews had come to the crease to bat but was ruled timed out after the strap of his helmet broke and he called for a replacement. Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed, and the umpires upheld it, leading to the first-ever timed-out dismissal in international cricket.
Following the World Cup episode, Mathews had publicly criticised the decision, calling Shakib “a cheat” and demanding justice from the International Cricket Council (ICC). He also argued that he still had five seconds remaining and could not safely face the bowler without a helmet.
Despite that controversial past, Bangladesh’s guard of honour at Galle appears to signal a softening of relations on the field, offering Mathews a dignified farewell from Test cricket.
Mathews, who made his debut in 2009, has been a mainstay in Sri Lanka’s batting line-up and has also captained the national side. His retirement marks the end of an era in Sri Lankan cricket.
