Cricket: Umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge calls it quits from all forms

International cricket umpire and former Sri Lanka first class cricketer Ruchira Palliyaguruge has reportedly retired from his officiating role as a cricket umpire from all forms.

Palliyaguruge, who recently completed 100 One Day International matches, also had stood in nine Tests, 56 Twenty20 Internationals in addition to 14 Women’s One Day Internationals and five Women’s T20 Internationals.

Ruchira Palliyaguruge (3rd from right) being acknowledged by Sri Lanka Cricket in his 100th One Day International appearance prior to the match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Colombo

The 57-year-old former first class cricketer, who turned out for Bloomfield, Chilaw Marians, Saracens, NCC and Old Cambrians SC, was a right-hand batsman and a right-arm paceman.

During the span of 1989 to 2007, Palliyaguruge played 124 first class games and picked 220 wickets in addition to scoring 4478 runs as an all-rounder.

His List ‘A’ career was limited to 63 games, where Palliyaguruge picked 59 wickets and scored 928 runs, in addition to appearing in nine T20 games to complete his playing career with a tally of 153 runs and six wickets.

Palliyaguruge made his umpiring debut at Sooriyawewa in 2011, when Sri Lankan hosted Australia for a full bilateral series in a One Day International.

Since then appeared in many tournaments hosted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC), World Cups in 2015, 2019 and 2022 Women’s World Cup. He also stood in the final of the 2016 Asia Cup.