As if the Naagin Dance was not enough, a new ill-tempered chapter was added to the fuming rivalry between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Monday as the ODI World Cup 2023 bids adieu to New Delhi. The Arun Jaitley Stadium has provided its fair share of some thrilling contests this World Cup — from insane run-fests to historic upsets. However, November 6, 2023, will go down in the history of the game and 50-over World Cups with two veteran players featuring in it – Shakib al Hasan and Angelo Mathews.
The historic, or rather, an an unforgettable incident unfolded when Mathews walked out to bat following the dismissal of Sadeera Samawickrama. The former took his guard and tried tightening the strap of his helmet which eventually broke while he was pulling it. By the time Mathews got his gear changed, Shakib approached the on-field umpire Marais Erasmus and appealed for a time-out.
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After a brief chat with the Bangladesh skipper, the umpires declared Mathews ‘timed out’ – an instance that happened for the first time at the international level in 146 years of the game’s existence. All this while, the veteran Lankan all-rounder pleaded his case but to no avail. He headed back to the changing room, irate, throwing away the helmet bubbling with anger after leaving the field.
All’s fair in a war: Shakib
Bangladesh skipper Shakib believes he did the right thing, stating that he had to win and he would do whatever it took because the win was no less than a war.
“We had to win. If we go to a war, I think you do all it takes to make your team or country win,” Shakib told the reporters.
The 36-year-old narrated the entire scenario that transpired in the middle with Angelo Mathews which certainly took the attention away from Delhi’s air pollution.
“One of our fielders came to me and said, if you appeal, the law says he’s out because he hasn’t taken his guard within the time frame. So, then I appealed to the umpires, and the umpire told me whether you’re going to call him back or not, if I said he’s out, then you call him back, it doesn’t look good. I said I won’t call him back,” Shakib said.
The Bangladesh captain was then asked what would he have done if he had been in Mathews’ place. Shakib had a straightforward answer – “I’ll be careful. It doesn’t happen to me.”
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Spirit of the game was once again invoked but Shakib asserted his act was well within the rule.
“ICC should look into it and change the rules,” he said.
“He [Mathews] came and asked me whether I (will) withdraw my appeal or not If I want to, I said, you know, I understand your situation. It was unfortunate, but I don’t want to.”
Disgraceful from Shakib and Bangladesh: Angelo Mathews
After Shakib, Mathews decided to face the media and present his part of the story. Addressing the presser, the veteran Sri Lanka all-rounder said, he still had 5 seconds left after making it to the crease. And it was then the helmet strap broke off which was a clear case of equipment malfunction.
“I haven’t done anything wrong. I have two minutes to get to the crease and get myself ready, which I did. And then it was an equipment malfunction. And I don’t know where the common sense went. It’s disgraceful from Shakib and Bangladesh if they want to play cricket like that stooped down to that level I think there’s something wrong drastically,” Mathews said.
“If I got past my two minutes to get to the crease and in the law says you have to be ready within the two minutes and I was there two minutes 45 or 50 seconds. I still had after my helmet broke off, I still had five more seconds to go,” he added.
Did the Umpires fail to check?
As told by Mathews, the umpires admitted that they didn’t see the helmet breaking. It could have been checked referring to the recorded footage but the decision was made without considering it.
“And the umpires also told our coaches that they didn’t see my helmet breaking. I mean, I was just asking for my helmet,” Mathews said.
“They informed the coaches that they should have reviewed the situation in that manner. It’s pointless to take action after the fact; it should have been addressed in real time, considering the available technology.
“Umpires could have easily determined the timing difference at that moment. I’m at a loss for words regarding this situation. In my 15 years of experience, I’ve never witnessed a team and player being put in such a lowly position,” he added.
No respect for Bangladesh
For the first time in the World Cup 2023, a team denied customary handshakes with the opposition after the conclusion of the game. The Lankans headed straight back into the dressing room after Bangladesh finished the chase successfully.
Asked about why the team did that, Mathews said, “You need to respect people who respect us. It doesn’t mean that – they have to respect the game itself. I mean, we all are ambassadors of this beautiful game, including the umpires. So then, if you don’t respect and if you don’t use your common sense, what more can you ask for,” said Mathews.
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