During an Asia Cup 2025 match between Pakistan and the UAE, a Pakistani fielder's throw struck umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge in the head, leading to a temporary suspension of play and forcing a reserve official to step in. The incident occurred during the sixth over of the UAE's innings. After a shot towards mid-wicket, Pakistani wicket-keeper Mohammad Harris carelessly threw the ball back towards the bowler's end, without looking to see where the umpire was. The ball struck Palliyaguruge, a Sri Lankan umpire, on the head.
Following the incident, players gathered around the umpire to assess his condition. The team physio attended to Palliyaguruge and conducted a concussion test. However, due to the pain, he was unable to continue officiating the match and had to leave the field. Gazi Sohel from Bangladesh, the reserve umpire, replaced him. Harris reportedly apologized to Palliyaguruge for the mishap.
The incident sparked considerable reaction online, particularly due to a comment made by former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akram. Akram, known for his commentary, was caught on video exclaiming "What a throw bull's eye" after the umpire was hit. This comment drew criticism from some viewers, who deemed it insensitive and reflective of a negative mentality.
The match itself saw Pakistan emerge victorious over the UAE. Pakistan batted first, scoring 146 runs, with Fakhar Zaman contributing the most with 50 runs. The UAE team was then bowled out for 105 in 17.4 overs, resulting in a 41-run win for Pakistan. With this victory, Pakistan qualified for the Super-4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025 and were scheduled to face India on September 21.
This incident adds to a series of controversies involving the Pakistani team during the Asia Cup 2025. Prior to this, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft and even threatened a boycott. This demand stemmed from an earlier incident where the Pakistani team allegedly refused to shake hands with the Indian team after a match. Although their request to remove Pycroft was denied, the PCB later requested a one-hour delay for the match against the UAE.
