Shakib Al Hasan Gives a Straightforward Reply to Angelo Mathews’ Inquiry About Withdrawing ‘Timed Out’ Appeal

In a controversial turn of events during the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka World Cup match, Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews was given out for being ‘timed out’. The incident occurred when Mathews failed to be ready for the next delivery within the designated two-minute timeframe, prompting Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan to appeal for his dismissal. Despite Mathews explaining that the delay was due to a helmet issue and requesting Shakib to withdraw the appeal, the Bangladesh captain refused to do so.

During the post-match press conference, Shakib shed light on the incident, disclosing that it was one of his teammates who initially suggested appealing for ‘timed out’. When discussions with the umpire and Mathews took place regarding potentially recalling the Sri Lankan star by retracting the appeal, Shakib expressed his commitment to abiding by the rules.

“One of our fielders came to me and said that according to the law, if you appeal, he’s out since he failed to take his guard within the specified time frame. So, I appealed to the umpires. The umpire asked me whether I would call him back or not. If I had said he was out and then called him back, it wouldn’t have looked good. I decided not to call him back,” Shakib explained.

Having played against each other since 2006, Shakib emphasized his familiarity with Mathews and their history on the field. Mathews approached Shakib and asked if he would withdraw the appeal, to which Shakib responded, “I understand your situation. It was unfortunate, but I don’t want to.”

When questioned about whether the incident was related to the team’s over-rate, Shakib confirmed that it was not the case. He stated, “No, I don’t think we were slow on over rates today. But it was in the rules that a batsman has to come to the crease within a certain time period, and he wasn’t there at that time.”

The controversy surrounding Mathews’ dismissal dominated the post-match discussion, with Shakib providing insights into the events leading up to the appeal. Despite the backlash, Shakib remained steadfast in his decision to adhere to the rules and regulations of the game.