PAK vs UAE | Twitter on the edge after umpire Palliyaguruge gets hit on head trying to evade throw

‌In a must-win game against the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup T20 2025 campaign in Dubai, Pakistan huffed and puffed its way to 146/9 after being put into bat. Fakhar Zaman scored a 36-ball 50, while Shaheen Shah Afridi chipped in with an important cameo of 29 from 14 balls.

The UAE innings also started positively as opener Alishan Sharafu punched Afridi through covers for a boundary on the first ball. But they could not capitalise on their good start, losing three wickets in the gap of three overs to slide to 37/3.

Afridi picked up the first wicket as he castled Sharafu in the third over, while spinners Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub picked up a wicket each in their first overs to put the UAE on the back foot. Just as Pakistan were looking to finish the powerplay on a high, disaster struck for umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge.

Off the fifth ball of the sixth over, Ayub bowled a good length that turned into Dhruv Parashar, who tucked it to short mid-wicket. The fielder completed his throw to the keeper with Mohammad Haris, then relaying the ball back to Ayub for the next ball.

But unfortunately, the ball hit the Sri Lankan umpire’s head, who was looking in the opposite direction. With Ayub standing behind the umpire and asking th umpire to watch out, Palliyaguruge bent while trying to evade the ball. But the Kookaburra went on to hit his head with the official in visible pain.

The Pakistan physio rushed to check on the umpire and followed the concussion protocols. The Sri Lankan was taken out of the field with the fourth umpire taking his role on the field, and the game continued.

Twitter was on the edge as the umpire slowly made his way out, and Haris rushed to apologise for his throw.