Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian off-spinner, has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding the “timed out” dismissal of Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews by Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. The incident has sparked a heated debate among cricket enthusiasts, with opinions divided on the legitimacy of the dismissal.
Some argue that Mathews had every right to be frustrated since the delay in his batting was caused by a malfunctioning helmet. On the other hand, supporters of Shakib believe that he was well within his rights to appeal, as the incident fell within the rules of the game.
Ashwin, who has frequently found himself at the center of similar debates, particularly in relation to non-striker dismissals, has always maintained that players should adhere to the rulebook. However, in the case of Mathews and Shakib, he has a slightly different perspective.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated, “One side is talking about the rules and another side is talking about the spirit of cricket. When Mathews came out to bat, his helmet was not okay, and he wanted to change that. I saw another video where Shakib did not bring his guard against Sri Lanka, and he was allowed to bring it later. It has almost become warfare between these two countries.”
Ashwin acknowledged that Shakib’s appeal led to Mathews being given out, but he also revealed that there were reports suggesting that Mathews had already been warned by the umpires about the “timed out” dismissal. Ashwin sympathized with Mathews, stating, “Mathews was really upset that he got out, and rightly so. No one should get out like that; everyone will feel bad about that.”
In conclusion, Ashwin stated that both Mathews and Shakib were justified in their actions. Mathews was aware of the rule, while Shakib appealed due to the helmet malfunction. However, Ashwin emphasized that the ultimate victim in this situation was Mathews, who was dismissed as a result.
The controversy surrounding the “timed out” dismissal remains unresolved, with cricket fans and experts continuing to debate the issue.
