In a historic moment for international cricket, Angelo Mathews was dismissed for being ‘timed out’, a first in the sport’s 146-year history. Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan appealed for the dismissal during the 25th over when Mathews came to the crease after the fall of the fourth wicket. The incident occurred when Mathews’ helmet strap came off as he was preparing to face the ball. The umpires determined that he had taken more than the permitted two minutes to be ready to face the ball.
The cricket world has been divided over this decision. While former cricketers like Gautam Gambhir and Dale Steyn expressed their disapproval of the appeal, ex-India batter Sanjay Manjrekar commended Shakib Al Hasan for taking the call.
Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle shared his opinion on the matter in a post on X (formerly Twitter), titled “My thoughts on the Mathews-Shakib issue.” Bhogle emphasized the need to trust the umpires’ decision, stating that they are experienced and unlikely to make mistakes. He also highlighted that ignorance of the law is not a defense and if a player infringes the law, they have no grounds to argue.
Bhogle further explained that appealing for a ‘timed out’ dismissal is different from appealing for a run out at the non-striker’s end. In the latter case, the batter seeks an unfair advantage, and the bowler must run them out if possible. However, Mathews was not gaining any advantage or seeking one. Bhogle compared it to batters picking up a ball in play to give it to the bowler or a fielder, where no appeal is made unless the batter asks if it’s okay. He acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the situation and expressed that he would run out a non-striker every day of the week but wouldn’t appeal for a ‘timed out’ dismissal.
Bhogle concluded by dismissing the argument of the spirit of cricket, stating that it is often used by those who are ignorant or on the wrong end of a mistake. He emphasized the importance of playing within the laws of the game and acknowledged that Mathews and Sri Lankan fans may be disappointed and angry, but according to the laws, he was out.
The dismissal of Angelo Mathews has sparked a debate among cricket enthusiasts, highlighting the complexities and nuances of the sport.
