‘Umpire asked me if I was serious’, says Shakib in ‘timed out’ controversy,
NEW DELH (Web Desk) – Angelo Mathews was timed out during Sri Lanka’s clash against Bangladesh in Delhi on Monday.
Mathews walked in to bat at No 6 at the fall of Sadeera Samarawickrama’s wicket, but had to walk back before facing a single ball after he was timed out – a first in international cricket across all formats.
The veteran Sri Lanka all-rounder, who made a late entry to the World Cup as a replacement player, was left befuddled as Bangladesh appealed when he took time to sort an issue with his helmet.
The incident happened in the 25th over of the Sri Lanka innings when Shakib Al Hasan had just dismissed Samarawickrama, caught by Mahmudullah near the rope.
Mathews took his time walking in, and then struggled with his helmet as the strap broke just as he was taking guard.
As he signalled to the dressing room for a new helmet, Shakib and the Bangladesh team appealed for a “timed out” dismissal and the umpires upheld the appeal much to Mathews’ dismay.
Mathews was seen deep in discussion with Bangladesh and the umpires, but the appeal was not withdrawn and Mathews had to walk back dismayed.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 playing conditions pertaining to “timed out” dismissals reads thus: 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.
With Mathews taking more than two minutes to face his first ball, he had to be sent back to the pavilion following the appeal.
It was the first time in international cricket, men’s or women’s, that a batter was dismissed according to the “timed out” law.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said he “didn’t know if it was right or wrong” and that the umpires asked if he was “serious” when he controversially appealed to have Sri Lanka batsman Angelo Mathews given “timed out” in the World Cup on Monday.
Mathews became the first player in the 146-year history of international cricket to suffer the dismissal when he exceeded the two-minute limit to take strike when he arrived at the crease to bat.
The 36-year-old pleaded that the strap on his helmet wasn’t secure and, as a result, wasn’t ready to face his first ball.
“One of our fielders came to me and said that if I appealed, he would be out,” said Shakib who was voted man of the match in his team’s three-wicket win.
“The umpire asked me if I was serious and whether I would take it back or not. I said no. It’s in the laws; I don’t know if it’s right or wrong. I felt like I was at war.
“Whatever I had to do, I did it. There will be debates. Today that the timed out helped, I won’t deny that.”
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis said that a little common sense should have been applied.
“When Mathews came to the crease, there were five seconds left,” said Mendis.
“When he came out, he found out about the strap on the helmet.
“It’s disappointing that the umpires couldn’t step in and make good decisions.”
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