I have lost all respect for Shakib and Bangladesh: Mathews

Angelo Mathews gives Shakib Al Hasan a ‘timely’ send-off after capturing his wicket

Umpire Marais Erasumus tries to diffuse the tension between Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi players

• In my 15 years of playing, I’ve never seen a team or a player stoop so low 
• Today’s match, we had to win. If we are in a war, I think you should try to do everything to make your team or country win. So, I did the same thing - Shakib

An aggrieved Angelo Mathews said that he had lost all respect for Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and his team following the on-field incident where he became the first cricketer in international cricket to be dismissed ‘Timed Out’.

The incident happened in the Cricket World Cup match league match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Delhi on Monday when Mathews was timed out by the on-field umpire, when he failed to take guard within the stipulated two minutes allowed for a new batsman to arrive at the crease, as he had a malfunction with his helmet strap and play was held up until it was replaced.

In the meantime, the Bangladesh captain appealed against the delay and the umpire had no alternative but to uphold it which was within the laws. 

Talking to the media through the incident that occurred Mathews said, “I haven’t done anything wrong. I had two minutes to get to the crease, to get myself ready, which I did. It was an equipment malfunction and I don’t know where the common sense went. After my helmet broke, I still had five seconds to go. The umpires said they didn’t see my helmet breaking. I was just asking for my helmet. It was pure common sense.”

“We talk about the safety of the players and you guys tell me if it’s right for me to take my guard without my helmet on. It’s just pure common sense. That’s where the umpires could have done a bigger job at the time, because they could have gone back and checked. A wicketkeeper for a spinner, they don’t let keep without a helmet. So how can I take my guard without my helmet? It’s completely an equipment malfunction.” 

“The umpires also admitted that it was an equipment malfunction and they could have gone upstairs and checked. What’s the point of not checking at that time and then checking it afterwards? You need to have your common sense in terms of using technology. It was clearly malfunctioning, it just came off. I didn’t need to pull it and break it.”

Reacting to Shakib making the appeal and not withdrawing it, Mathews said, “Up to today, I had the utmost respect for him (Shakib) and the Bangladesh team. You all play to win. If it’s within the rules, it’s clearly fine. But in my incident today, within two minutes, I was clearly there. We have video evidence and we’ll put out a statement later on. I’m not just coming and saying things here. I’m talking with proof. From the time the catch was taken to the time I walked into the crease, I still had five seconds after breaking my helmet.”

“It’s a very disappointing way that Bangladesh played. After I showed my helmet, the umpires said they had appealed. So, I asked where common sense was because my two minutes hadn’t passed. Shakib had the choice of withdrawing the appeal, but he decided to go the other way. My personal opinion is, if it was any other team, they wouldn’t have done it. I’ve got no words to explain it. In my 15 years of playing, I’ve never seen a team or a player stoop so low.”

Shakib when questioned about his action to appeal replied, “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 or not 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. Yeah, unfortunate, but within the rules. We have played a lot of games against Sri Lanka. He came and asked me whether I 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. In today’s match, we had to win. If we are in a war, I think you should try to do everything to make your team or country win. So, I did the same thing.”

Following Mathews’ incident, the relationship between the two teams was not cordial with Sri Lanka players refusing to shake hands with the opposition at the end of the match.

“You need to respect people who respect us. It doesn’t mean that, they have to respect the game itself. I mean, we are all ambassadors of this beautiful game, including the umpires. If you don’t respect and if you don’t use your common sense, what more can you ask for?” said Mathews.