Controversy erupted in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 on Monday (November 6) as Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews was ruled ‘timed out’ in a match against Bangladesh at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
The incident took place during the 25th over of Sri Lanka’s innings. Still recovering from the loss of Sadeera Samarawickrama, the 1996 World Cup winners endured another blow without a bowl being bowled.
Mathews leisurely arrived in the middle and just before he was getting ready to face the first ball, he felt something wrong with his helmet. Consequently, the Sri Lankan cricketer gestured towards the dressing room, asking for a new helmet.
While the 12th man ran with a helmet, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan had already appealed for a timed out against Mathews and the latter had to walk back to the pavilion, much to the shock of the cricket fraternity.
Mathews pleaded his case with the Bangladesh players and the umpires but it went in vain. While walking back to the dressing room, he vented out his anger by throwing his helmet on the ground right after crossing the boundary ropes.
During the innings break, reserve umpire Adrian Holdstock told Star Sports: "The fielding captain initiated the appeal to Marais Erasmus, who was the standing umpire, that he wanted to appeal for timed out."
"As a batsman I think you need to make sure that you have all your equipment in place in order to make sure you get here, because you actually have to be ready to receive the ball within two minutes - not ready to prepare or take your guard," he added.
As Angelo Mathews became the first player in the history of international cricket to be ruled timed out, members of the cricket fraternity took to social media to share their views.
Here are the reactions:
The ICC playing conditions pertaining to "timed out" dismissals reads: "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."
