Angelo Mathews' timed-out controversy mentioned as Ravichandran Ashwin highlights 'no outrage' in USA being penalized 5 runs

Ravichandran Ashwin has highlighted the lack of outrage over the USA being docked five runs during the game against India in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The T20 World Cup co-hosts became the very first team to be penalized under the new stop-clock regulations that have become a permanent feature in men's ODIs and T20Is from the start of this month. As per the new rule, the field team is required to start the next over within a minute of the conclusion of the previous over.

If the fielding team fails to comply, they will receive two warnings before the subsequent violations will result in a 5-run penalty. As a result, the USA were penalized five runs after they failed to start the next over in time for the third time in the game.

They suffered the penalty at a very crucial juncture in the game. India were in a spot of bother and needed 35 runs from the last 5 overs on a tough batting pitch. However, the penalty brought down the equation to run-a-ball and India went on to win the game by 7 wickets.

Ravichandran Ashwin unhappy over lack of outrage:

A couple of days after the incident in New York, Ravichandran Ashwin shared his views on the same. Not the one to mince his words, the India spin star recalled how there was a huge outrage all around after Angelo Mathews was given timed out during the game against Bangladesh in the ODI World Cup last year. Ashwin opined that there is no outrage over the recent incident because it favored the batting side.

"Now, they have given a five-run penalty. Some people said that they didn't understand anything. But, there is no outrage for this. In the same way, if the batsman comes to the crease late, you can appeal and get a wicket.

"They gave an out to Mathews in the 50-over World Cup. In the same way, if one side exploits the same rule it is not a big crime. Because it is an exploit in the bowling field. If it is exploited in the batting field, it becomes a big issue. I can't understand. I think there is a bias between both sides. Both departments of the game," Ravichandran Ashwin said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.

"That is the only problem for me. Because a rule is a rule. If I know that this is a rule, if I make a mistake in that rule, I will get a penalty for those five runs. I deserve it. That's how I see it. They gave a rule, right? According to that rule, I have a duty to follow it. If I don't follow that rule, I am ready to face the consequences. In the same way, they gave a rule, and you should be ready to face the consequences," he added.

Meanwhile, India have already booked their place in the Super 8s of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup. The USA can also join India in the next round if they manage to beat Ireland in their last group game.