Ruchira Palliyaguruge

Ruchira Palliyaguruge
Personal information
Full name
Ruchira Shaman Akmeemana Palliyaguruge
Born (1968-01-22) 22 January 1968 (age 56)
Matara, Sri Lanka
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleUmpire
Umpiring information
Tests umpired9 (2018–2021)
ODIs umpired97 (2011–2024)
T20Is umpired51 (2011–2024)
WODIs umpired14 (2013–2022)
WT20Is umpired5 (2016–2023)
Source: Cricinfo, 7 June 2023

Ruchira Palliyaguruge (born 22 January 1968) is a Sri Lankan umpire and former first-class cricketer. He played for Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club, Chilaw Marians Cricket Club, Saracens Sports Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club, Old Cambrian Sports Club.[1] Palliyaguruge bowled right-arm medium pace and batted right-handed. Playing mostly club cricket, he has over 200 first-class wickets to his name and also over 4000 runs in a career that began in 1989/90.

Palliyaguruge's One Day International (ODI) umpiring debut was in a match between Sri Lanka and Australia at Hambantota in 2011.[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.[3] He made his Twenty20 debut on 17 August 2004, for Panadura Sports Club in the 2004 SLC Twenty20 Tournament.[4]

He was selected as one of the twenty umpires to stand in matches during the 2015 Cricket World Cup.[5] He stood in the final of the 2016 Asia Cup.[6] In November 2016 he won Sri Lanka Cricket's award for International Umpire of the Year.[7][8] In 2018, in the 2nd Test Between Bangladesh and West Indies in Dhaka Palliyaguruge stood his first match as a Test umpire.[9]

In April 2019, he was named as one of the sixteen umpires to stand in matches during the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[10][11] In February 2022, he was named as one of the on-field umpires for the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.[12][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ ESPN Cricinfo: Ruchira Palliyaguruge
  2. ^ ESPN Cricinfo.com: Umpire and referee records
  3. ^ Umpires claim ICC Panel not selected on merit
  4. ^ "1st Round, Colombo, Aug 17 2004, Twenty-20 Tournament". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  5. ^ "ICC announces match officials for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015". ICC Cricket. 2 December 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Asia Cup, Final: Bangladesh v India at Dhaka, Mar 6, 2016". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Mathews, Chandimal declare fitness for South Africa tour". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Dialog Cricket Awards 2016: List of award winners". Cricket Machan. 1 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Paliyaguruge stood as a test umpire". ESPNCricinfo.
  10. ^ "Match officials for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Umpire Ian Gould to retire after World Cup". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Eight women among 15 Match Officials named for ICC World Cup 2022". Women's CricZone. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Match officials chosen for ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 February 2022.