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Photograph: (Source: Hindustan Times)
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With a better performance against the United Arab Emirates in their last league stage match, Pakistan secured their place in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four. While the focus was on the team's performance under qualification pressure, the audience's attention was drawn to a particular occurrence during the UAE's chase.
On Wednesday, September 17, during the pivotal Group A match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in the 2025 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, Sri Lankan umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge was caught up in a regrettable situation.
Umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge Gets Injured:
Asia Cup 2025 Drama: Pakistan fielder’s throw hits umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge on the ear during UAE clash. Play halted briefly as umpire leaves the field. 🏏 #AsiaCup2025#PAKvUAEpic.twitter.com/t6QQ9cdujO
— Gummalla Lakshmana (@GUMMALLALAKSHM3) September 18, 2025
The UAE was chasing a goal of 147 runs when the event occurred in the second innings of the match. The fielder threw the ball back towards the bowler, Saim Ayub, following the fifth ball of the fifth over. But the ball caught Palliyaguruge in the back of his head because he was facing away from it. The ball stung even though it was fortunately not hurled with force.
Wasim Akram, a legendary cricket player from Pakistan, was in the commentary box when the incident happened. Some online supporters felt that a more appropriate term could have been used to characterise the occurrence, which is why the former Pakistani player's "bullseye" remark offended them. Wasim Akram stated on commentary, “Straight on the head of the umpire, what a throw! Bullseye! One job of the fielder is not to hit the umpire…,”
To see how the senior umpire was doing, the Pakistani players hurried in. Before Pakistan's physio arrived in the middle to check on Palliyaguruge, Ayub took off his cap. It appeared as though a concussion test had been administered. With a preference for the region surrounding his left ear, Palliyaguruge ultimately made the decision to abandon the profession. Palliyaguruge was replaced by Gazi Sohel of Bangladesh as the reserve umpire for the remainder of the match, which Pakistan won by 41 runs.
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