Angelo Mathews holds no grudge over Timed-Out incident
Angelo Mathews during today's press meet, Cricfrenzy
Veteran Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews is set to bid farewell to international Test cricket with his final appearance coming against Bangladesh in the Galle Test starting tomorrow.
The matchup, however, carries a deeper emotional undertone for Mathews, as it revives memories of a controversial moment from the 2023 ODI World Cup.
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In that high-stakes group match — crucial for both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to stay in contention for the Champions Trophy — Mathews became the first cricketer in history to be timed out. Coming in to bat during a precarious situation for Sri Lanka, he was dismissed without facing a ball after Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed for a timed out and did not withdraw the appeal.
Understandably, the moment left a lasting impression on Mathews. Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Sunday, dressed in Test whites, he reflected, "At the time I was angry and disappointed. I hadn’t done anything wrong. After the match, when I showed the video to the match referee and umpires, they realized the mistake and apologized."
Despite the controversy, Mathews insisted that he holds no grudge: "It was a very unfortunate incident. They’re my friends, and I have nothing personal against them. They’ve always behaved well with us. We exchanged a few words back then, but I don’t hold on to anger. Resentment is a bad word in cricket."
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Now choosing to focus on the fond memories, Mathews highlighted his affection for Bangladesh: "I’ve played a lot in Bangladesh — not just international cricket, but domestic tournaments like the BPL and DPL too. I’ve always enjoyed it there. They’re all good friends of mine."
Mathews, who debuted in 2009, retires as one of Sri Lanka’s finest, with over 7,000 Test runs. His farewell match begins tomorrow in Galle, against the very team that gave him one of his most unforgettable — and controversial — moments in cricket.
