How Angelo Mathews got out against Bangladesh in ODI World Cup game, MCC 'Time-Out' rules and regulations

Sri Lanka's seasoned all-rounder, Angelo Mathews, found himself in the spotlight after an unusual dismissal against Bangladesh on Monday. While coming to bat at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Mathews became the first international batter to be dismissed. Timed out. He also became the seventh batter in cricket history to be timed out.

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When he came to bat, Matthews faced an unexpected setback as the strap of his helmet broke while he was making his way to the pitch. His efforts to resolve the issue with a replacement helmet caused a delay. Meanwhile, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan appealed against him, resulting in his being timed out as per the regulations.

The incident has reignited the debate over cricket rules, with fans expressing their concerns over the strict timing constraints imposed on incoming batters. According to MCC Rule 40.1.1, a batter must arrive at the pitch within 3 minutes (2 minutes in World Cups) of the previous dismissal. Failure to adhere to this regulation results in a timed-out dismissal, as experienced by Mathews.

Was Shakib Al Hasan's decision against the spirit of the game?

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The controversy further deepened as Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan decided to appeal, ultimately leading to Mathews's dismissal without facing a single delivery. Despite the unforeseen circumstances surrounding Mathews's delayed entry, the umpires were compelled to uphold the decision as per the stipulated rules.

MCC Rule 40.1.2 clarifies the protocol in the event of an extended delay, requiring the umpires to adopt the procedure of Law 16.3 (Umpires awarding a match). However, it emphasises that the bowler does not receive credit for this dismissal, paralleling the regulations for run-out incidents.

As Mathews's unprecedented exit from the pitch sparks discussions about the practicality and fairness of the existing timing rules, the cricketing community anticipates further deliberations on them in the future. However, despite early setbacks, Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 279/10 in 49.3 overs. Charith Aslanka scored a beautiful century and helped Sri Lanka cross the 250-run mark.