The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup game between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Delhi on Monday will be long remembered for all the wrong reasons.

While Bangladesh won this game by three-wickets, the big talking point is the controversial dismissal of the Sri Lankan allrounder, Angelo Mathews.

Mathews became the first player in international cricket to be dismissed via a timed out.

This was largely due to a helmet malfunction preventing him from taking his guard and facing his first ball within the required two minutes.

Speaking about his dismissal after the match a clearly upset Mathews, said his dismissal was a disgrace and not within the spirit of the game.

“I haven't done anything wrong,” said Mathews who was involved in a piece of unwanted cricket history.

“I have two minutes to get to the crease and get myself ready, which I did. And then it was an equipment malfunction.

“I don't know where the common sense went, because obviously it's obviously disgraceful from Shakib Al Hasan and Bangladesh if they want to play cricket like that obviously stooped down to that level, I think there's something wrong drastically because - if I got late 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 and the umpires also have said to our coaches that they didn't see my helmet breaking. I mean, I was just asking for my helmet.

“So, it was just pure common sense. I'm not talking about mankading or obstructing the field here. This is just pure common sense and bringing the game into disrepute. It is absolutely disgraceful.”

Angelo Mathews pleads for the descision to be reserved by the umpires Marais Erasmus (middle) of South African and Richard Illingworth (left) of England. - Cricinfo

The Bangladeshi captain, Shakib Al Hasan, in his turn said that from their side there are no regrets in the manner in which Mathews was dismissed.

“Not at all,” said Al Hasan.

“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, 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.

“We played under-19 together, World Cup, so I have known Angelo for a long, long time, since 2006. Yes, it’s unfortunate, but within the rules.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday at 10:30 Australia will face Afghanistan in Mumbai. Both teams are still in the hunt for the two remaining spots in the semi-finals.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport