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Angelo Mathews expressed strong disapproval of the actions taken by Shakib Al Hasan and the Bangladesh team, labeling them as “clearly disgraceful.” Mathews, a seasoned international cricketer with 15 years of experience, found himself at the center of a controversy during a match against Bangladesh when he was given out for a “timed-out” violation. He characterized this incident as unprecedented and lamented the fact that his helmet strap broke, suggesting that no other team would resort to such tactics.
The dispute erupted when Mathews was declared out without facing a single delivery, citing the “timed-out” rule. He had just reached the batting crease and was preparing to face Shakib’s bowling when his helmet strap snapped as he tried to secure it. Requesting a helmet replacement, he found himself out, as Bangladesh lodged an appeal, roughly three minutes and 20 seconds into this incident.
Mathews strongly criticized Shakib and the Bangladesh team for their actions, deeming them disgraceful and suggesting that such behavior indicated a worrisome decline in sportsmanship. He expressed his disappointment with Bangladesh’s approach to the game and emphasized that if it were a matter of mankading or obstructing the field, he would have had no issues with it.
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According to ICC’s playing conditions, a new batter must be “ready to receive the ball” within two minutes of a dismissal; otherwise, they can be given out. In this particular case, Mathews’s helmet strap broke approximately one minute and 55 seconds after the catch of Samarawickrama was completed, just as Angelo Mathews was in the final stages of preparing to face Shakib, even though he had not yet taken his guard.
Mathews pointed out that he was at the crease within the stipulated two minutes, and it was during his time at the crease that his helmet malfunctioned. He questioned the absence of common sense in the decision, as there were still five seconds left within the allocated time. He emphasized the uniqueness of this situation, stating that he had never witnessed such conduct in his 15 years of playing cricket, and believed that no other team would have taken a similar approach, given the straightforward equipment malfunction and safety issue involved in his case.
Interestingly, Mathews and Shakib have known each other since their U-19 days. However, Mathews noted that his opinion of Shakib and the Bangladesh team had changed following this controversy.
Mathews underlined the importance of adhering to the rules of the game and fair play, stating that he had always respected Shakib and the Bangladesh team until this incident. He also mentioned that they would provide video evidence and issue a statement to support their claims.
Shakib had the option to withdraw his appeal after Mathews explained the situation, but he chose not to do so. Mathews clarified that he had not attempted to waste time or gain an advantage.
The controversy extended beyond the field, as the Sri Lankan team refused to shake hands with the Bangladesh players following Bangladesh’s victory. Mathews justified this by emphasizing the need to respect those who respect the game itself, including the umpires. He urged for greater respect and common sense in the spirit of cricket.