Ruchira Palliyaguru
Ruchira Shaman Akmeemana Palliyaguruge (born January 22, 1968 in Matara, Sri Lanka) is a Sri Lankan Umpire and a former first class cricketer. Ruchira Palliyaguruge played for Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club, Chilaw Marians Cricket Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Old Cambrians Sports Club, Saracens Sports Club.[1] Palliyaguru bowled right arm medium pace and batted right-handed. Playing mostly in Clubs, he has over 200 first class wickets to his name and 4000 runs in a career that began back in 1989/90.
Ruchira Palliyaguruge's debut ODI umpiring was between West Indies v Australia at Kingstown in March 2012. [2] Ruchira's umpiring career has been marked with controversy. According to an article in The Sunday Times: Senior cricket umpires have petitioned Sri Lanka Cricket that umpires such as Ruchira Palliyaguruge named for the ICC Panel have not been done according to merit. The article quotes: "...and that Ruchira Palliyaguru’s umpiring is way below standard.The disgruntled umpires claim that they had requested to scrutinize the results sheet of the Umpires Examination from a senior cricket official but this official has said that the original result sheet cannot be traced and that it may have been stolen." [3]
Ruchira Palliyaguruge was back in the news again, when he gave a controversial 'out' at a crucial stage of the game in 2012 Asia Cup between India and Bangladesh on March 16, 2012. Ruchira was appointed as the third umpire for the game. In case of inconclusive replays, usually 'benefit of doubt' is given to the batsman. Even though in repeated replays it showed that Shakib al Hassan was inside the crease, Ruchira pushed the red button.[4] According to an article in The Daily Star, " Ruchira stunned the capacity crowd by sending Shakib Al Hasan back to the pavilion".[5]