In a dramatic twist at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews has labeled Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, as “disgraceful.” This fiery clash marked a historic moment in international cricket, as Angelo Mathews became the first player in 146 years to declared “timed out.”
The controversy unfolded as Angelo Mathews given out for failing to take his stance within the two-minute time limit while walking out to bat. The delay caused by a helmet strap malfunction, prompting Shakib Al Hasan to seize the opportunity and appeal for Mathews’ wicket.
Mathews didn’t mince words, expressing his frustration, saying, “I don’t know where the common sense went because obviously it’s disgraceful from Shakib and Bangladesh if they want to play cricket and stoop down to that level. I think there is something drastically wrong.”
He continued, “In my 15-year career, I’ve never seen a team go to such lengths. The umpires admitted it was an equipment malfunction, and they could have reviewed it. I don’t think any other team would do that. It was black and white, an equipment malfunction, and a safety issue. Shakib had the option to recall me, but he decided to go the other way.”
Under the laws of cricket, the incoming player must be ready to receive the ball within two minutes after a wicket falls or a batsman retires. Mathews later got his revenge by dismissing Shakib in the 32nd over and cheekily gesturing “Timed-out” to mock Shakib’s earlier actions.
Despite the intense rivalry, Shakib played his part, scoring 82 runs off 65 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes. Mathews also managed to dismiss Najmul Shanto, who played a pivotal role in convincing Shakib to appeal for “Timed-out.” Shanto put up an impressive performance, scoring 90 runs off 101 balls with 12 fours.
The controversial dismissal created a tense atmosphere, and the players from both teams chose not to shake hands after the match. The game ended in Bangladesh’s favor, dashing Sri Lanka’s slim hopes of reaching the semi-finals. Watch the video of the dismissal here.
