New Delhi: The ICC World Cup 2023, besides witnessing multiple surprise upsets, saw yet another first-of-its kind incident on the cricket field on Monday as Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews became the first player in the international cricket to gone timed out, in the match against Bangladesh in the national capital.
Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lankan all-rounder found himself in soup, as he took more than stipulated time in settling on the cricket pitch after wicket fall. The surprise & sudden exit of the cricketer left him agitated but the audience got baffled & flummoxed over what led to his sudden departure.
Angelo Mathews got timed out!!!!!..😯😯 pic.twitter.com/Jqfw9dXupK
— Shawstopper (@shawstopper_100) November 6, 2023
How Lankan batter declared OUT
Angelo has become the first player in the history of International cricket to have been timed out. This happened while Lanka played against Bangladesh in Delhi’s Arun Jaitley stadium.
Mathews came to the field to bat after Sadeera Samarawickrama’s dismissal on 41 runs (in 42 balls). However, the much experience player who came all prepared for big knocks had to return to the pavilion without even facing a ball.
On reaching the field, Mathews realized that the strap of his helmet was broken and he wanted to get it changed, and accordingly gestured to the team. While a replacement was on its way, the Bangladeshi bowler Shakib appealed before the umpire for ‘time out’ and Mathews was given out.
Mathews could have been spared his wicket had the Bangldeshi bowler chosen to withdraw his appeal. But, he persisted on his appeal and the Sri Lankan had to return to pavilion without facing even a single ball. He got timed out, because of delay in bat exchange.
Agitated Mathews & violation of spirit of game
Following his sudden dismissal, Mathews was seen getting into heated exchange with the umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth and tried to reason the delay but all that went in vain & he had to return.
Angelo’s dismissal stirred a big debate on social media whether this was violation of spirit of the game. Many from the cricket fraternity expressed their disappointment over such ‘uncalled for’ exit and said that such practices take away the excitement & thrill of the game.
Commentator and former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis also said that he was not happy with the call by Bangladesh and called it against the spirit of game.
🏏😔THIS is FIRST TIME in INTERNATIONAL CRICKET.
Bangladesh appealed against Angelo Mathews for timeout and he was given out. #SLvsBAN #BANvsSL #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/Dw7KBCdQN0
— 🇮🇳Bhanu (@singh_bhan33431) November 6, 2023
How he got timed out, what rulebook says
The rule book allows every team to opt for an appeal for time out. If the team makes an appeal and any player caught in violation of the stipulated time, he will be timed out.
The rule says that after a player is declared out or takes emergency retirement from batting, the incoming player must be ready to take on the ball in next 3 minutes. If he fails to do so, he will be liable for dismissal or retirement. If the incoming player fails to meet this criteria, he will be declared out i.e. timed out.
