In a bizarre and rare incident, Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews on Monday became the first player to be timed out in international cricket during his team’s ODI World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

The incident occurred in the 25th over of the innings when Mathews walked in to bat after Shakib dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made a 42-ball 41.

According to the timed-out rule, the batter has to make the pitch within 3 minutes (2 minutes in World Cups) of the dismissal of the previous player and be ready to face the next delivery and Mathews didn’t follow that.

The 35-year-old Mathews, who leisurely walked out to the middle, appeared to have some issue (strap was broken) with the helmet. He didn’t consult the umpire and called for a different helmet.

Meanwhile, Shakib and Bangladesh appealed for a time-out and the umpires gave Mathews out as they had to go by the rules. The veteran Sri Lanka captain tried to plead his case to the umpires and Shakib, but the former followed the rules and the latter did not want to withdraw their appeal.

Mathews, who had to depart without facing a single delivery, was fuming at the decision and threw his helmet in anger at the boundary line.

What does the rule book say on Time Out?

Notably, the playing conditions (here World Cup) and Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) rules differ on the timing.

“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,” states the MCC rulebook.

On the other hand, the ODI World Cup 2023 Playing Conditions pin the time at two minutes.

“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,” the statement says.

Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first in their World Cup match, which is being played amid severe pollution levels in the city.

Tanzim Hasan replaced Mustafizur Rahman in the Bangladesh playing XI while Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Perera came in for Chamika Karunaratne and Dushan Hemantha in the Sri Lankan team.

Playing XIs:

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan(C), Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(C), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka.