In a high-stakes encounter at the Cricket World Cup 2023, a contentious incident involving the dismissal of Angelo Mathews has sparked heated debates, leaving both teams divided and cricket fans buzzing with excitement.

The incident occurred during the Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh match on Monday, a contest that promised excitement and drama. Angelo Mathews, a key figure for Sri Lanka, found himself at the center of a storm when he was dismissed under the 'timed out' rule.

Mathews had an unfortunate delay in preparing to face his first delivery when his helmet strap came off. He argued that this malfunction was the cause of his tardiness. However, Bangladesh refused to withdraw their appeal, and the umpires ultimately sided with the opposition, claiming that Mathews had exceeded the prescribed two-minute limit set by the Cricket World Cup 2023 playing conditions.

The controversy deepened during an on-field interview at the innings break, as the fourth official, Adrian Holdstock, clarified that Mathews had surpassed the time limit even before the helmet strap incident occurred. This revelation only added fuel to the fiery debate.

Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of the Bangladesh team, stood firmly behind his decision to appeal, citing the cricket laws that dictate batters must take their guard within the stipulated time frame. "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," Shakib explained in the post-match press conference.

Shakib also explained that he and Mathews had played against each other for a long time, and Mathews himself came up to him to explain the situation. Despite their history, Shakib was resolute in his stance. "It was in the rules that a batter has to come to the crease within that certain period of time, and he wasn't there at that time," he asserted.

In response to Shakib's decision, Angelo Mathews vehemently disagreed with the ruling. He claimed that he was ready to face the bowler within the two-minute time limit before the helmet strap issue arose. Mathews expressed his dismay, saying, "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 because obviously it's disgraceful from Shakib and Bangladesh."

Mathews also appealed to the video evidence, which, he argued, showed that he still had five more seconds left on the clock even after the helmet malfunction. He stressed the importance of safety and requested that the fourth umpire rectify the situation.