This year's Cricket World Cup has been dominated by India on the field and a nationalist crusade being directed by the current prime minister, Narendra Modi, off the field. Monday seemed like one of the less exciting fixtures as 8th placed Bangladesh took on 7th placed Sri Lanka with neither team in contention to make the knock out stage. Even in a year marked by controversial wickets, what transpired was a mode of dismissal that no cricket fan will have seen at the international level.
'Timed Out'
Sri Lankan legend Angelo Mathews strode to the middle with his side in a spot of bother having lost four wickets for 135 runs in the 24th over. In cricket, a batsman is given two minutes from the time of the previous wicket to face up to his first ball. If the batsman fails to do this the fielding team can appeal for him to be given out, 'timed out.' Previous versions of how this might play out would be a batsman forgetting an article of his kit or deliberately wasting time in order to force some form of result such as a draw in longer forms of the game.
Neither of these were the case today. Mathews arrived at the crease in good time but just prior to facing his first ball the strap on his helmet broke. Mathews signalled to have a new helmet brought out to him and while this took place Bangladeshi captain, Shakib Al Hasan, gave a muted appealed to the umpire for timed out. Mathews was blissfully unaware of the appeal until he was informed by the umpires that he had been given 'timed out', the first player to be out in this fashion in the 146 year history of international cricket.
Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews was controversially TIMED OUT in a first for international cricket! ⏱️🚨 pic.twitter.com/Hbtby3hH8z
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 6, 2023
The umpires asked Shakib Al Hasan twice if he wished to withdraw the appeal, on both occasions the Bangladeshi captain said he did not. As he began to leave the field in shock, Mathews spoke to Shakib before storming off in disgust. Al Hasan is well known for his hot headed antics toward both the opposition and umpires during his time in professional cricket;
Shakib Al Hasan Angry Moments. He Kicking Stumps.#SLvsBAN #ShakibAlHasan #AngeloMathews #ICCMensCricketWorldCup2023 #CWC23 #BANvSL #thuglife @vikrantgupta73 #Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/KaT0OOpTJa
— Ifrosh (@Ifrosh10) November 6, 2023
Mathews' revenge
Sri Lanka went on to make a decent recovery after the incident, with tensions flaring between the two sides, as they were bowled out for 279. The Sri Lankans took to the field and continued verbal assaults against the Bangladesh batsmen. They took two early wickets and in the sixth over, Shakib took guard and faced his first ball (inside the alloted time frame). Mathews was quickly introduced in to the bowling attack and had his chance to bowl at Shakib. The former Sri Lanka captain so very nearly made the dream comeback when Al Hasan attempted to slap a ball through cover, but was dropped by centurion Charith Asalanka.
🏏🔥🇱🇰Angelo Mathews almost won the battle against 🇧🇩Shakib but fielder dropped the catch.😎💫#SLvsBAN #BANvsSL #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/U7Yj6YvHcm
— 🇮🇳Bhanu (@singh_bhan33431) November 6, 2023
Shakib and his partner Najmul Shanto, went on to score 82 and 90 respectively despite a cacophony of spats and verbal exchanges between the two sides. Mathews was reintroduced and took both the wicket of Shanto and Shakib. The second wicket was enjoyed by Mathews as he celebrated by telling Shakib it was 'time to go', gesturing as if to tap a wrist watch.
Angelo Mathews gets his wicket! 🤝
Shakib Al Hasan is dismissed on 89 ❌ pic.twitter.com/1f9x1FjEX8— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 6, 2023
Shakib unphased after Bangladesh win
Despite Mathews leading a comeback late on, it was not enough Bangladesh knocked off the runs required in the final over of the game. Such was the animosity, the two sides did not even shake hands at the end of the game. In his post match press conference Shakib, showed no remorse for how the match transpired and was largely overshadowed by the Mathews wicket.
He said in the post match press conference:
One of our fielders came to me and said that if you appeal now. (Mathews) will be out. Then I appealed and the umpire asked if I was serious, then asked if I wanted to take it back or not. I said no.
I mean, it's in the laws. I don't know if it's right or wrong, but I felt like I was at war. I had take a decision to make sure that my team wins and whatever I had to do, I had to do it. Right or wrong, there will be debates but if it's in the rules, I don't mind taking those chances.
Mathews was far more damning in his assessment of the incident and pulled no punches when describing Shakib and his team;
It was disgraceful from Shakib Al Hasan and his team. If they want to play cricket like this and stoop low then there is seriously something wrong.
"It's absolutely disgraceful" 🗣
Angelo Mathews addressing the extraordinary incident, where he was dismissed timed out in Sri Lanka's match with Bangladesh👇 pic.twitter.com/t2oTF7T3Oj— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 6, 2023
Reaction from pundits and players
Former players and pundits have weighed in with former England international Steve Harmison describing it as "an absolute mess."
"A mess, an absolute mess," says Steve Harmison - what did you make of Angelo Mathews being Timed Out? @Harmy611 #BANvSL #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/A68ngNxFUr
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 6, 2023
Current Australia star batsman Usman Khawaja was equally unimpressed:
Angelo made his crease then his helmet strap broke. How is that timed out? I'm all for timed out if he doesn't make his crease but this is ridic. No different then a batsman getting to the crease then taking 3 minutes to face up 🤦🏽♂️#cricketworldcup
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) November 6, 2023
There were also plenty of response very typical of social media as many made light of the situation, including cricket writer, Cameron Ponsonby;
Angelo Mathews being given out pic.twitter.com/AQRj4wu7b3
— Cameron Ponsonby (@cameronponsonby) November 6, 2023
Cricket podcaster Ian Higgins gave a similarly comedic response:
“Dad, tell us about the time Shakib timed out Angelo Matthews” pic.twitter.com/s32EiWLyer
— Ian Higgins (@1an_Higgins) November 6, 2023
In a tournament that could be criticised for its narrow reaching appeal and lack of smaller nations this was a very memorable moment in this World Cup, for all the wrong reasons. The tournament continues tomorrow with Australia v Afghanistan in Mumbai.
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