Cricket commentator & analyst Harsha Bhogle stated his thoughts about the Spirit of Cricket argument regarding the Shakib-Mathews controversy from yesterday’s match between Bangladesh & Sri Lanka.
Read More: CWC 2023: Siraj-Shami obliterate Sri Lankan batting lineup
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Harsha Bhogle posted,
My thoughts on the Mathews-Shakib issue.
You have to believe the umpires. If they say two minutes had elapsed, they had because these are vastly experienced, and very good, umpires and they are unlikely to make those mistakes.
Second, ignorance of the law is no defence. If…
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 7, 2023
It’s evident that Harsha’s statement defends Shakib Al Hasan’s action on the field. With this post, Harsha reminded everyone that rules & emotions are two separate things: and a captain has the right to appeal, and trust in umpires must be maintained. At the end of his statement, Harsha also showed his understanding of the rage behind Sri Lankan fans.
The reason behind Shakib’s Desperation
Bangladesh has been struggling throughout the tournament & winning this match was crucial to book a seat for the ICC Champions Trophy of 2025. As the captain, it was apparent that he would not let any opportunity slip under his radar. So when Angelo Mathews showed up to the pitch late and got tangled up with a helmet issue, Shakib quickly asked for a “Timed Out” dismissal.
Rules & Arguments regarding “Timed Out”
According to the MCC Rule 40.1.1
“After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”
So Shakib’s appeal was nowhere near grey, illegal, or controversial as it came straight out of the books.
After a little chat between Shakib & the umpires, Angelo Mathews was given “Timed Out” for his late arrival and unreadiness to face the ball within time limits. In a post-match interview, Angelo Mathews told Ian Bishop that the umpires asked Shakib “Twice” to know if he would withdraw the appeal, but Shakib said “No” both times.
Read More: CWC 2023: Bangladesh defeats Sri Lanka by 3 wickets, breaks their losing streak
Angelo Mathews’s “Timed Out” also created history last night in Delhi, as he is now the first cricketer to get dismissed in this way in international cricket. After the dust settled, Sri Lanka set a target of 279 runs. In response, Shakib Al Haan & Shanto yielded a match-winning partnership of 169 runs to defeat Sri Lanka by 3 wickets.
