However, since 2017, the rivalry has become even between the two sides, where Bangladesh made successful wins against Sri Lanka at major ICC competitions.
The growth of large expatriate populations from both countries across the world led to neutral venues, including the Australia, UAE and Canada, hosting bilateral and multilateral One Day International (ODI) series involving the two teams and the teams have met during International Cricket Council (ICC) competitions.
Bangladesh usually appointed former Sri Lankan players in their coaching staff in numerous occasions, such as Athula Samarasekara, Ruwan Kalpage, Mario Villavarayan, Champaka Ramanayake, Rangana Herath, Thilan Samaraweera, Naveed Nawaz, Hashan Tillakaratne and current coach Chandika Hathurusinghe.
[3] Bangladesh started franchise cricket in 2012 with Bangladesh Premier League, where they hired two Sri Lankan players: Sanath Jayasuriya (for Khulna Royal Bengal), Muttiah Muralitharan for Chittagong Kings; in the first choice highest paid, and continued in following seasons.
[8][9][10] On 15 February 2018, the rivalry arose when Bangladesh spinner Nazmul Islam celebrates his maiden T20I wicket with the naagin dance by dismissing Sri Lankan opener Danushka Gunathilaka.
[5][3] On 10 March 2018, in the first match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh did an angry version of the Naagin dance towards the bowler Thisara Perera after his match-winning fifty in front of a packed Sri Lankan crowd.
[13][14] This created huge disrespect toward Bangladesh by Sri Lankan fans, started to criticise in public.
[5] The sixth match of the tournament and a must-win situation for Sri Lanka to reach the final was held on March 16, 2018, in Colombo.
In chasing, Bangladesh were 33 for 2 in the fourth over, but Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal combined for 64 runs off 52 balls and gained momentum.
However, the assistant coach of Bangladesh Khaled Mahmud informed Mahmudullah to go back and finish the game.
[13] During the course, Bangladeshi players shattered the window of the Bangladesh dressing room in R. Premadasa Stadium as well.
Later, both Shakib and Nurul received one demerit point each for breaching Level 1 of the ICC code of conduct and were fined 25% of their match fees.
After the win, Sri Lankan fans celebrated the moment with a Naagin dance showing towards Bangladeshi players.
On 1 September 2022, Sri Lanka played against Bangladesh in another must-win situation after being thumped by Afghanistan.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost wickets in regular intervals, leaving 25 needed in 12 balls to win the game.
Chamika Karunaratne who was in the dressing room posed naagin dance towards the camera after the win.
[3] Mathews came to bat a minute and 10 seconds after Samarawickrama's dismissal and met the non-striker Charith Asalanka to exchange a quick word.
[23] Mathews then asked to use the 'common sense' of having equipment malfunction to both umpires and Bangladesh skipper, but no one reversed the decision.
[5] After the match, several current and former players criticised Shakib's option on Time Out, including Bangladesh fast bowling coach Allan Donald.
[27] Meanwhile, Mathews stated that he had lost all the respect for Shakib and only Bangladesh could have done such a thing, as well as making video evidence to prove that he was within the time in helmet malfunction.
[30] In the first T20I match, Bangladeshi pacer Shoriful Islam mimics Angelo Mathews with 'Time Out celebration' after the dismissal.
[31] After winning the T20I series 2–1, Sri Lankan players made timed-out gesture in posing the camera with the trophy.
Sri Lanka has won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1996 and Bangladesh's best-ever performance came in 2015 when they reached the quarter finals.
Sri Lanka has participated in all 16 editions of the Asia Cups hosted, winning 6 trophies.