Angelo Mathews’ timed out dismissal in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Delhi on Monday (November 6) has become a major topic of debate.
After coming to the crease, Mathews was getting ready to face the first ball. However, his helmet strap broke just as he was tightening it around his chin, prompting him to ask for a new one
As the 12th man ran with a helmet, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan had already appealed for a timed out and the Sri Lankan all-rounder was asked to walk back to the pavilion by the umpires without facing a ball.
The incident created quite a stir in the cricket fraternity. While many sympathised with Mathews, some felt Shakib was well within his rights to appeal.
The ICC playing conditions pertaining to "timed out" dismissals state that after the fall of a wicket, the incoming batter must be ready to receive the next ball within two minutes.
According to the match officials, Mathews was unable to take strike within the stipulated two minutes and that’s why he was ruled time out.
Sharing his two cents on this matter, veteran India spinner R Ashwin emphasized on the inconsistency of the usage of this variety of dismissal.
Ashwin also mentioned that he came across a video on social media where Shakib had forgotten to get his guard in a match against Sri Lanka and he was allowed to bring it with none from the opposition camp appealing for timed out.
"One side is talking about the rules and another side is talking about the spirit of cricket. When Mathews came out to bat, his helmet was not okay, and he wanted to change that. I saw another video where Shakib did not bring his guard against Sri Lanka and he was allowed to bring it later. It has almost become warfare between these two countries," Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
"Actually with timed out, yes Shakib appealed and the umpire gave it out, agreed. Recently, there has been information that Mathews was already warned by the umpires about the timed out dismissal. But Mathews was really upset that he got out, and rightly so. No one should get out like that, everyone will feel bad about that," he added.
Ashwin further cited that he was made aware of the timed out dismissal by the on-field umpire during the Nagpur Test against Australia earlier this year.
"I wanted to go slowly so that it would be the last over and be called stumps. But then the umpire told me, 'You came to the crease a bit late. Do you know that if they had appealed I would have given you out.' I was really shocked," the off-spinner stated.
