![Asia Cup 2025: [Watch] Umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge gets hit on his head and exits the field midway through PAK vs UAE clash](https://cricketmood.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/123953331.jpg "Asia Cup 2025: [Watch] Umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge gets hit on his head and exits the field midway through PAK vs UAE clash 1")
Ruchira Palliyaguruge, a Sri Lankan umpire, was caught in the thick of an unfortunate incident during the important Group A match between Pakistan and the UAE in the 2025 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Wednesday, September 17.
The event occurred during the second innings of the match, as the UAE was pursuing a 147-run goal. Following the fifth ball of the fifth over, the fielder lobbed the ball back to the bowler, Saim Ayub. However, Palliyaguruge had his back to the ball when it struck him on the back of the head. Thankfully, the ball wasn’t hurled with force, but it still hurt.
Pakistani players came in to check on the senior umpire. Ayub removed Palliyaguruge’s headgear before Pakistan’s physio arrived in the middle to check on him. It appeared that a concussion test was conducted. Palliyaguruge eventually decided to leave the field, preferring the area surrounding his left ear.
Gazi Sohel, a reserve umpire from Bangladesh, replaced Ruchira Palliyaguruge for the remainder of the match, which Pakistan won by 41 runs.
Watch the video below:
The ball hit the umpire. pic.twitter.com/xhxrjReokI
— الف (@Offcourseasssad) September 17, 2025
Earlier in the match, Pakistan posted 146/9, after Fakhar Zaman scored a brilliant 50 off 36 balls, belting two fours and three sixes. Shaheen Shah Afridi also contributed with a quickfire 29* off 14 balls to help Pakistan cross the 140-run mark. Junaid Siddique was the pick of the bowlers for the UAE, finishing with figures of 4/18 in four overs.
In reply, the UAE got off to a decent start, adding 19 runs in the first couple of overs. However, the Pakistani bowling unit, especially the spinners, applied the brakes and kept building pressure on the UAE batters. Rahul Chopra top-scored with a run-a-ball 35, but the UAE batters failed to rotate strike, and the required run rate kept climbing. Eventually, the home side was bowled out for 105 in 17.4 overs.
Shaheen, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed bagged two wickets apiece for the Men in Green. The former was named Player of the Match for his all-round heroics. With this win, Pakistan joined India in the Super-Four stage of the tournament.
India
