Delhi: An unexpected incident shook the ODI World Cup 2023 tournament as Sri Lankan star batsman Angelo Mathews was declared ‘timed out’ without even facing a single ball. This historic moment unfolded during the ongoing match against Bangladesh (SL vs BAN) on Monday, marking the first-ever occurrence of a ‘timed out’ dismissal in international cricket.
The incident transpired in the 25th over when Sri Lankan player Samaravikrama was dismissed by Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, on the second ball. Subsequently, Angelo Mathews stepped in to bat at number 6. However, his entrance was marred by a broken helmet strap, prompting him to signal the dressing room for a replacement helmet. This delay led to an appeal from the Bangladeshi team for ‘timed out.’ The umpire, upon reviewing the appeal, ruled Mathews out, despite his argument that the delay was caused by the faulty helmet. Consequently, Mathews had to depart for the Outai Pavilion without even setting foot on the crease.
This marks a significant moment not only in the World Cup but in international cricket as a whole, as no player had previously been declared ‘timed out’ at this level. While the ‘timed out’ rule had been invoked on six occasions in first-class cricket, this incident is the first of its kind in international cricket, with India’s Hemulal Yadav being one of the rare instances.
In accordance with ICC rules, when a batsman is dismissed, the succeeding batter is required to be prepared to face the ball within the specified time frame. International cricket rules mandate a 3-minute limit for this transition, but the regulations for the 2023 ODI World Cup have reduced this time to 120 seconds. Thus, the incoming batsman is obliged to reach the crease within 2 minutes. Failure to do so results in a ‘timed out’ dismissal, with the player being declared out.
