A recent Super 4s match between India and Pakistan at the Asia Cup on Sunday saw a controversial moment when third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge’s decision to dismiss Fakhar Zaman sparked widespread concern from the Pakistan cricket team and former players. The incident revolved around Sanju Samson’s catch off Hardik Pandya’s bowling in the third over, leading Pakistan to reportedly challenge the ruling with match referee Andy Pycroft. They specifically questioned the legitimacy of the catch and the limited camera angles utilized during the review.
Fakhar Zaman, who had already scored 15 of Pakistan’s 21 runs, edged a slower delivery from Hardik Pandya. Samson then made a diving catch, which the third umpire reviewed from only a couple of angles before ultimately declaring Zaman out.
Following the match, Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha addressed the controversial decision in his official report to the match referee and later during a press conference. While maintaining a diplomatic tone, he expressed his doubts: "Umpires can make mistakes. But it did look like it bounced ahead of the keeper to me. I might be wrong. The way [Fakhar] was batting, if he had batted through the powerplay, we would probably have scored 190. But those are calls for umpires to make. To me, it looked like it bounced before the keeper. I might be mistaken, but so might be the umpire."
Former Pakistan cricketers, however, were far more vocal in their criticism. Shahid Afridi, speaking on Samaa TV, insinuated potential bias, remarking, "He also has to umpire in the IPL."
Mohammad Yusuf also criticized the restricted review process, stating, "They didn’t even check many angles. Fakhar had hit three fours and handled (Jasprit) Bumrah with ease in the first over. His wicket was crucial for India."
Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar offered a more detailed critique on state-run Pakistan TV: "Fakhar wasn’t out. He should have been given the benefit of doubt. Did they dare look at the mid-wicket camera angle? Otherwise, the cameras show the whole stump, but in this case, they could not find an angle? Why couldn’t they get an angle? With 26 cameras available, why did the third umpire only check two angles?" Akhtar continued, "If Fakhar had stayed, the match might have turned. The third umpiring level was questionable. It clearly looks like the ball touched the grass. His palms are not on the ground fully. The ball has weight too."
Fact Check: Ruchira Palliyaguruge’s IPL Record
Ruchira Palliyaguruge has an extensive officiating career, having stood in 18 Tests, 132 One-Day Internationals, and 84 Twenty20 Internationals in men’s cricket, alongside 22 Women’s ODIs and eight Women’s T20Is. He has also served as an official in 158 T20 matches in total, with 110 as an on-field umpire and 48 as a TV umpire.
However, despite claims, Ruchira Palliyaguruge is not among the five Sri Lankan officials who have served as umpires, TV umpires, or match referees in the history of the Indian Premier League. The Sri Lankans who have officiated in the IPL include Graeme Labrooy, Kumar Dharmasena, Ranjan Madugalle, Roshan Mahanama, and Tyron Wijewardene.
This recent controversy follows another incident from the group stage match between India and Pakistan, where pre-match protocols caused friction. During that game, India captain Suryakumar Yadav reportedly declined to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha at the toss, citing protests related to the Pahalgam terror attacks. Pakistan had also previously raised concerns about match referee Andy Pycroft’s handling of the handshake situation, although the ICC later disputed Pakistan’s claim that Pycroft had apologized for his directive.