New Delhi: In an unusual turn of events, Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews found himself on the wrong side of cricket history as he became the first player to be timed out in international cricket during a World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.
The incident occurred when Mathews's helmet strap broke as he walked out to bat. While he waited for a replacement helmet, Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan appealed, and Mathews was given out. Once Shakib decided to uphold the decision, there was nothing the umpires could do. Mathews had come in to bat after Shakib dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama, who had made a 42-ball 41.
According to the MCC rulebook, "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 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out." However, the ODI World Cup 2023 Playing Conditions set the time limit at two minutes, stating that "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."
Before this incident, a batter had been timed out only six times in any format, all in first-class cricket.
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