During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Angelo Mathews faced an unprecedented dismissal without even playing a single ball. The incident marked the first instance of a ‘timed out’ dismissal in international cricket.
According to ICC playing conditions, a new batter must be ready to face the next ball within two minutes of the previous batter’s dismissal. Mathews, however, encountered a setback when the chinstrap of his helmet broke just as he was gearing up to face the bowler, Shakib Al Hasan. Seeking a replacement helmet, Mathews signaled to the Sri Lankan dugout, causing a delay.
Despite the helmet issue, the umpires ruled that Mathews had exceeded the two-minute time limit, even before the strap broke. This decision, upheld after an appeal by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, left Mathews dismayed. The Sri Lankan player argued that he was ready to face the bowler within the time frame, presenting video evidence with time-stamped screenshots supporting his claim that he had five seconds left even after the helmet malfunction.
Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik weighed in on the incident, expressing his opinion that Mathews lacked the presence of mind during the crucial moment against Bangladesh.
“If Mathews had played one ball before requesting a helmet change, there wouldn’t be any issue. I don’t think that he had the presence of mind. I believe he wasn’t thinking clearly at that moment. Moreover, I don’t think Mathews could have imagined someone would call for a timed-out. That’s the crucial aspect here,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Post-match, Mathews voiced his frustration. He argued that his dismissal resulted from an “equipment malfunction,” a safety concern that should have been taken into consideration. In contrast, Shakib defended the appeal, stating that everything was within the rules.