Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews created history and not in a good way in his team’s ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 match in Delhi against Bangladesh. He became the first-ever batter to be timed out in international cricket.
Bangladesh had won the toss and chose to bowl first. Sri Lanka didn’t start well as Kusal Perera was out for 4 runs. Captain Kusal Mendis scored 19 runs before Shakib Al Hasan dismissed him. Pathum Nissanka (41) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (41) then rebuilt the innings a bit, but Tanzim Hasan removed Nissanka, and Shakib got rid of Samarawickrama.
Charith Asalanka was looking for someone to support him and Angelo Mathews with all his experience walked out when Samarawickrama was dismissed. But he couldn’t do much as he had to walk back out as soon as he was given out by the umpires.
The incident happened in the 25th over of the innings. Mathews came out to bat and reached the crease in time as well. However, while adjusting his helmet, his strap broke and instead of facing a delivery, he asked for a new helmet.
Shakib Al Hasan discussed with the umpire about the time Mathews was taking. The Bangladesh captain then appealed to the umpires for timed out.
After a discussion between the two umpires, Mathews was given the marching orders. The experienced batter pleaded his case with umpires showing the broken helmet strap and also to Shakib, explaining the issues.
The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 playing conditions pertaining to "timed out" dismissals:
40.1.1: “After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”
40.1.2: “In the event of an extended delay in which no batter comes to the wicket, the umpires shall adopt the procedure of Law 16.3 (Umpires awarding a match). For that Law the start of the action shall be taken as the expiry of the 3 minutes referred to above.”
However, the pleas fell on deaf ears and a livid Mathews walked off the field, showing the broken strap to his dugout. He infamously became the first batter to be given timed out in international cricket.
Here is the video:
