Aakash Chopra Picks His Side On Angelo Mathews vs Shakib Al Hasan Debate

Angelo Mathews was timed out during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as he failed to take his guard within two minutes of the last dismissal. Shakib Al Hasan appealed for the wicket and he was given out as per the rules of the game which clearly states that an incoming batter must be in a position to take the guard or for their partner to be ready to receive the next ball within three minutes (2 minutes in ICC playing conditions) of the fall of the previous wicket. If the player fails to do so then the fielding team can make an appeal to the umpire and the batter can be declared ‘timed out’.

Former India opener, Aakash Chopra pointed out that Angelo Mathews was nowhere trying to gain an unfair advantage when he was ruled ‘timed out’ in the match. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Mathews’ dismissal was slightly different from the much-debated run-out while backing up too early.

“Was it ethically and morally correct? I remember, I think it was Afghanistan’s game against Bangladesh, Mujeeb Ur Rahman forgot his abdominal guard, they didn’t make a timed-out appeal then, but they did it for Angelo Mathews. So it seemed slightly different, don’t know why,” he explained.

“The more important thing is should it be done? I always believe that if something is right as per law, how can it be ethically incorrect? I always say that when there is talk about the run-out at the non-striker’s end, but no one was trying to cheat or take unfair advantage here,” the former India opener added.

Angelo Mathews Became The First Player In ODIs To Be Timed Out

Angelo Mathews reached the crease five seconds before the stipulated time but while he was trying to tighten his helmet, he broke the strap and asked for another helmet. The thing is Mathews had still not taken his guard and that allowed Shakib Al Hasan to appeal the umpires for a wicket. Eventually, Angelo Mathews was given out and became the first player in ODI history to be timed out.

Aakash Chopra pointed out that if the strap had broken after Mathews faced a ball, no one could have appealed for the same. “The only thing was that there was a slight delay. If the delay is because of carelessness, then it’s absolutely wrong, I totally agree. However, if he had played that ball and then his helmet had broken, he could have changed his pads as well, no one would have said anything to him,” he said.

The reputed commentator emphasized that the umpires could have convinced Shakib to withdraw the appeal. “We didn’t give him a 15-second allowance but we are ready to give him 10 mins if he had played a ball, and there wouldn’t have been any penalty. So it is slightly problematic. I feel the umpires could have probably stepped in and told Shakib that what he was doing was wrong but no one said and no one heard,” he elaborated.

Angelo Mathews avenged this incident by taking Shakib’s wicket during Bangladesh’s innings. However, Shakib had done the damage by then as he scored a match-winning 82 off 65 deliveries and also won the Player of The Match Award.