Delhi: During the UAE-Pakistan batting in the Asia Cup 2025, the story of Fielder Mohammad Haris throw, ground umpire Ruchira Palliaguruga’s ear and his failure of his failure in the conversion test has once again started the discussion of what is the security of the umpire in the cricket match? The high speed ball, whether the fielder has throwed or the batsman’s shot, can prove to be very deadly for the umpire.

In domestic cricket, there is an example of death from the umpire’s ball injury. Palliaguruga is not the first umpire who failed in the conversion Test in international cricket due to the ball. In December 2016, Australian umpire Paul Refel also failed in the conversion test due to the ball of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the rear of the head in the Indo-England Test at Wankhede Stadium. Such an injury could also prove to be fatal. So why did the ICC never think about the safety of the umpire doing ground duty?

In cricket, everyone’s eyes are usually on the players, but there is also a silent warrior umpire who is not directly involved in the game but more than many players on the front ‘front’ but no one thinks of safety equipment for them. It is generally believed that umpires stay away from action, but the increasing stories of the umpire’s injury makes them think about it. Considered away from action, that is why no law of wearing helmets, body padding or gloves of umpires till date. Now that the number of women umpire is increasing and they are also giving duty in fast-paced male cricket, then it has become even more important.

Female umpires have started wearing padding under Thai guard or clothes for their own safety. All this is less. Cricket gloves, batting pads and helmets need to be emphasized more for the umpire on duty in cricket. By the way, some male umpires have also started wearing protective gear, especially in T20 leagues and international matches such as Shin Guards (under the trousers), thigh and knee pading, chest guard or vest (under shirt), cap or cap, sunshine and arm guard.

Cricket umpires in England have started wearing baseball style helmets in local cricket. In fact, after the death of Philip Hughes, it has now started to believe that it is not that cricket is not a deadly game. For the batsmen or nearby fielders, they made laws but are silent in the case of umpire. That is why the umpires have been trying themselves, especially in view of the powerful bat and aggressive strokeplay in T20 cricket.

In Sydney Grade Cricket, umpire Carl Ventzel started wearing helmets when 5 teeth were broken due to ball ball in 2001. Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford even started the use of security shield in international cricket. This is a matter of June 2016 and umpire Bruce Oxenford used a new protective shield in the Sri Lanka-England match. He had a shield on his left hand in that Edgbaston International. Earlier in April, Gujarat was worn during the Lions-RCB IPL match and even before that during the Australia-West Indies World T20 Warm Up Match. However, it is important that those who run cricket think about this.