Mathews became the first cricketer to be timed out in international cricket during the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Controversies and discussions surrounding the dismissal have been raging since it happened, with a new development coming on Wednesday (November 8).

According to ESPNCricinfo, Mathews was informed by on-field umpire Richard Illingworth that he had only 30 seconds remaining to be ready to face the bowler when he arrived at the crease.

The playing conditions for the 2023 World Cup dictate that a player must be ready to face the bowler within two minutes of the previous dismissal. In Delhi, just as Mathews was about to take guard to face Shakib Al Hasan, the strap of his helmet broke, forcing him to request for a new one before facing his first delivery.

Shakib sensed an opportunity and appealed for a timed out. Since Mathews was not ready to face the bowler within the stipulated two minutes and Shakib didn’t withdraw his appeal despite being asked about it by the umpires, he was given out.

However, Mathews has argued since then that he was ready and had taken guard at the crease within one minute and 55 seconds when his helmet strap broke. In fact, he has gone on to post video ‘evidence’ of the same on social media.

The latest report by ESPNCricinfomeans that Mathews had a fair idea of the risk he was under of getting timed out when he arrived at the crease and yet, proceeded to ask for a helmet change without informing the umpires, which is a convention that players follow.