On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, in the important Group A game between Pakistan and the UAE, in the 2025 Asia Cup, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in Dubai, Sri Lankan umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge was in the wrong place during a tragic event of harm to a fan who accidentally fell and died on her hands.
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.
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, Saim Ayub took off his cap. It appeared as though a concussion test had been administered. With 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.
View the video below:
The ball hit the umpire. pic.twitter.com/xhxrjReokI
— الف (@Offcourseasssad) September 17, 2025Fakhar Zaman’s Blitz and Pakistani Bowling Power Propel Team to Super Fours
Pakistan had already gone 146/9 earlier in the game courtesy a marvelous 50 in 36 balls by Fakhar Zaman who struck two fours and three sixes. Shaheen Shah Afridi also reached 140 and beyond with a speedy 29 off 14 balls helping Pakistan to overcome its 140 mark set. Junaid Siddique was the best bowler of the UAE with a 4/18 statistic in four overs.
UAE reacted with 19-runs in the first two overs and made a decent start. But the bowling team of the Pakistani team, especially the spinners, slowed down and resumed the pressure on the United Arab Emirates hitters. Rahul Chopra had 35 runs per ball but the UAE batsmen could not alternate their attack and the required run rate was on an increasing trend. The home team was later bowled out to 105 in 17.4 overs.
Haris Rauf and Shaheen as well as Abrar Ahmed all grabbed two wickets each in the hands of Men in Green. His overall courage made the former win the title of Player of the Match. Pakistan proceeded to the Super-Four round of the tournament together with India with this victory. assistance of Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed, was chosen as Player of the Month due to his performance as an all-rounder. The win guaranteed Pakistan a spot at the Super Fours with India.
