Rivals decide Tigers’ destiny

As the Asia Cup group stage draws to a close, Bangladesh find themselves in an all-too-familiar position: waiting on others; calculators and equations in hand.

Their narrow win over Afghanistan on Tuesday kept hopes alive, but their fate in the competition no longer rests in their own hands. To reach the next round, Super Four, the Tigers must rely on Sri Lanka, a side who beat them convincingly earlier in the tournament.

Since 2018, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have forged a modern-day rivalry, fiery on the field and spiced off it with the famous "Nagin dance" exchanges. Yet today, all that matters for Bangladesh is that the islanders prevail against the Afghans in Abu Dhabi.

If Sri Lanka win, the calculations end there. If they lose, only a heavy defeat will give the Tigers the door to sneak through.

Yesterday afternoon, the Bangladesh players set out on their 150-kilometre journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. Some carried their favourite meals for the ride, a brief pause that felt like the interval of a movie -- the audience spilling into the lobby to grab popcorn before the story resumes.

Around the hotel, Sri Lankan players could be seen in relaxed mood before their practice session. Former all-rounder Upul Chandana, now their fielding coach, shared a few smiles and words with the Bangladeshis; a fleeting moment of warmth between rivals.

Whether Bangladesh will practise in Dubai on September 19 or fly back home will largely depend on the Sri Lankans. The players have tried to sound indifferent, but the tension is clear.

Spinner Nasum Ahmed said, "What's meant to be, will be." A neat line, though beneath the calm words lies quiet anticipation.

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Meanwhile, news has reached Charith Asalanka and his teammates that Bangladesh fans will temporarily support Sri Lanka. A Sri Lankan journalist said the players find it rather amusing. Sri Lanka captain Asalanka himself was in a jovial mood yesterday, a light-heartedness Bangladesh will be hoping survives the contest.

Afghanistan, for their part, know only one thing matters: victory. All-rounder Gulbadin Naib admitted the challenge but embraced the pressure. "Every match in tournaments like this is tough. We've been here before. Our fate is in our own hands," he said.

That's what makes the Abu Dhabi fixture one of those rare moments multi-nation tournaments produce. Two sides fighting for survival, while a third watches nervously from afar. The stakes ripple across borders -- Bangladesh contingent and fans in Dubai; their fans back home; even neutrals following the drama of the Asia Cup.

For now, Bangladesh's hopes ride on their rivals. It is a strange alliance, but cricket often serves up such twists. Should Sri Lanka win, Bangladesh may even meet the islanders again in the Super Four.

One day of friendship. The next, back to claws and fangs; courtesy for competition. The irony isn't lost. A team humbled by Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament, and who would normally relish seeing them stumble, are now forced to pin their hopes on those very rivals.

Like a T20 match, the colours keep changing.