Cricket World Cup 2023

The Mujeeb Ur Rahman equipment delay that didn’t end in a ‘Timed Out’ against Bangladesh

by Wisden Staff November 6, 2023 - 2:32pm 2 minute read

Angelo Mathews became the first batter in international cricket to be Timed out after Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan refused to take back the appeal following a delay in starting his innings in a 2023 World Cup game, but Mujeeb Ur Rahman could have been on the unwanted list earlier in the tournament.

Controversy erupted during the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka clash when Mathews’ broken helmet strap meant he took more than the stipulated two minutes to face his first ball after he walked out following Sadeera Samarawickrama’s dismissal in the 25th over.

As Mathews took longer than the ICC Playing Conditions permit to face the ball, Shakib was well within the laws to appeal for a Timed out dismissal. The Bangladesh captain did not heed the on-field umpire’s requests to withdraw the appeal, and Mathews was eventually given out in bizarre circumstances.

However, Mathews would not have been the first player to be dismissed in this manner had Bangladesh appealed for a Timed out for Mujeeb in their first game of the World Cup against Afghanistan. In the game at Dharamsala, Mujeeb walked out in the 35th over following Rashid Khan’s wicket and was prepared to face his first ball, with the fielders also in place for the delivery.

Just before Mehidy Hasan was gearing up to bowl to him, Mujeeb asked for a halt in the proceedings as he realised he had forgotten to wear his box. The substitute fielder was seen rushing in as laughter ensued all around while the Afghanistan spinner wore his equipment.

However, against Sri Lanka, when a similar incident panned out, with Mathews signalling to the substitute fielder for a helmet replacement before he faced his first ball, Bangladesh decided to go up in appeal and refused to back down for the Timed out.

According to the ICC Playing Conditions, “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 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”

While the exact time taken for Mujeeb to finally be ready to face his first ball against Bangladesh is not clear, there had been a relatively lengthy stoppage in play after he walked out.