Kumar Dharmasena

{{Short description|Sri Lankan cricket umpire (born 1971)}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox cricketer | honorific_prefix = Deshabandu | name = Kumar Dharmasena | image = | caption = | fullname = Handunnettige Deepthi Priyantha Kumara Dharmasena | nickname = Unanduwa | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|4|24|df=yes}} | birth_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka | heightm = 1.72 | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm offbreak | role = All-rounder, umpire

| columns = 4 | column1 = Test | matches1 = 31 | runs1 = 868 | bat avg1 = 19.72 | 100s/50s1 = 0/3 | top score1 = 62* | deliveries1 = 6,939 | wickets1 = 69 | bowl avg1 = 42.31 | fivefor1 = 3 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 6/72 | catches/stumpings1 = 14/– | column2 = ODI | matches2 = 141 | runs2 = 1,222 | bat avg2 = 22.62 | 100s/50s2 = 0/4 | top score2 = 69* | deliveries2 = 7,009 | wickets2 = 138 | bowl avg2 = 36.21 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 4/37 | catches/stumpings2 = 34/– | column3 = FC | matches3 = 155 | runs3 = 6,550 | bat avg3 = 36.18 | 100s/50s3 = 9/37 | top score3 = 157 | deliveries3 = 25,549 | wickets3 = 495 | bowl avg3 = 20.77 | fivefor3 = 30 | tenfor3 = 5 | best bowling3 = 7/30 | catches/stumpings3 = 78/– | column4 = LA | matches4 = 206 | runs4 = 2,281 | bat avg4 = 26.21 | 100s/50s4 = 0/9 | top score4 = 94* | deliveries4 = 9,747 | wickets4 = 234 | bowl avg4 = 28.62 | fivefor4 = 3 | tenfor4 = 0 | best bowling4 = 5/14 | catches/stumpings4 = 50/– |medaltemplates= {{MedalSport|Men's Cricket}} {{MedalCountry|{{SRI}}}} {{MedalCompetition|ICC Cricket World Cup}} {{Medal|W|1996 India-Pakistan-Sri Lanka|}} {{MedalCompetition|ICC Champions Trophy}} {{Medal|W|2002 Sri Lanka|}} | date = 24 November 2023 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/player/48469.html Cricinfo }}

Deshabandu '''Handunnettige Deepthi Priyantha Kumar Dharmasena''' (born 24 April 1971) is a Sri Lankan cricket umpire and former international cricketer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/657430 |title=International cricketers turned umpires |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref> He is a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and the first person to participate in an ICC Cricket World Cup final both as a player and an umpire. A right-handed batsman and a right-arm off break bowler, Dharmasena was a member of the Sri Lankan side that won the 1996 Cricket World Cup and the side which were joint-winners of the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with India.

== Playing career == Dharmasena was born in Colombo on 24 April 1971.<ref name="Cricinfo-profile">{{cite web|author=Austin, Charlie|title=Kumar Dharmasena|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/player/48469.html|access-date=16 December 2012|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He started his cricketing career as a teenager at Nalanda College Colombo.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 October 2020|title=Kumara Dharmasena now a planter of 'liquid gold'|url=http://archives1.sundayobserver.lk/2020/10/25/sports/kumara-dharmasena-now-planter-%E2%80%98liquid-gold%E2%80%99|access-date=22 April 2021|website=Sunday Observer|language=en}}</ref> His first foray into international cricket was in 1994 in a Test match against South Africa.<ref name="Cricinfo-profile" />

His obscure action made him perfect for bowling in one-day matches, yet Dharmasena also proved a useful batsman, especially after he was investigated in 1998 by the ICC for overstretching his bowling action to illegal proportions. Having been cleared in July 2000, he played for the one-day team on several occasions since, but rarely played Test cricket.<ref name="Cricinfo-profile" />

Dharmasena was the 59th Sri Lankan cricketer to receive a Test cap (Sri Lanka v South Africa at Colombo Sinhalese Sports Club 1993).

Kumar Dharmasena has the record for playing the most number of ODI innings before being dismissed for a duck (72 innings).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/284081.html|title=Records {{!}} One-Day Internationals {{!}} Batting records {{!}} Most innings before first duck {{!}} ESPN Cricinfo|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=22 February 2017}}</ref>

He along with Dulip Liyanage set the record for the highest 8th wicket runstand for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket (91).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/fow/highest_partnerships_by_wicket.html?class=2;id=8;type=team|title=Cricket Records {{!}} Records {{!}} Sri Lanka {{!}} One-Day Internationals {{!}} Highest partnerships by wicket {{!}} ESPN Cricinfo|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=28 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64556.html|title=Only ODI: West Indies v Sri Lanka at Port of Spain, Jun 6, 1997 {{!}} Cricket Scorecard {{!}} ESPN Cricinfo|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=28 March 2017}}</ref>

==Umpiring career== Following his retirement as a cricketer in November 2006, Dharmasena announced plans to become a competitive umpire, as he wished to remain "close to the game which I love so dearly".<ref name="umpireannounce">{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/267959.html | title=Kumar Dharmasena to pursue umpiring career | publisher=ESPNcricinfo | date=15 November 2006 | access-date=16 December 2012 | author=Thawfeeq, Sa'adi}}</ref> Prior to his retirement, he had already umpired several domestic matches in the Sara Trophy, the major first-class cricket tournament in Sri Lanka.<ref name="umpireannounce"/> He umpired his first international match in 2009, overseeing the one-day international between India and Sri Lanka at the Rangiri International Stadium in Dambulla:<ref>{{cite book | title=Wisden Cricketer's Almanack | publisher=John Wisden & Co | year=2010 | location=London | pages=1333 | chapter=Sri Lanka v. India, 2008–09 | isbn=978-1-4081-24642}}</ref> he remains the youngest ever Sri Lankan to umpire any international match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icc-cricket.com/the-icc/match_officials/panel_of_umpires.php |title=Match Officials – Emirates Elite Panel of Umpires |publisher=International Cricket Council |access-date=16 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216100710/http://www.icc-cricket.com/the-icc/match_officials/panel_of_umpires.php |archive-date=16 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He umpired in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and was appointed to the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires later that year.<ref name="Cricinfo-profile"/> Dharmasena was named the Umpire of the Year at the 2012 ICC Awards, receiving the David Shepherd Trophy.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/582366.html | title=Kumar Dharmasena voted Umpire of the Year | publisher=ESPNcricinfo | date=15 September 2012 | access-date=16 December 2012}}</ref>

He was selected as one of the twenty umpires to stand in matches during the 2015 Cricket World Cup<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2014/media-releases/83319/icc-announces-match-officials-for-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015 |title=ICC announces match officials for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 |publisher=ICC Cricket |date=2 December 2014 |access-date=12 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330201852/http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2014/media-releases/83319/icc-announces-match-officials-for-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015 |archive-date=30 March 2015 }}</ref> and umpired in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/engine/match/656495.html |title=ICC Cricket World Cup, Final: Australia v New Zealand at Melbourne, Mar 29, 2015 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=29 March 2015 |access-date=29 March 2015}}</ref> In doing so he became the first to play in and to umpire World Cup finals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-world-cup-kumar-dharmasena-first-to-play-and-umpire-in-final-20150327-1m9mne.html|title=Cricket World Cup: Kumar Dharmasena first to play and umpire in final|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|author=Jesse Hogan|date=28 March 2015|access-date=25 January 2016}}</ref> He stood in the final of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.<ref name="2016T20">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/951373.html |title=World T20, Final: England v West Indies at Kolkata, Apr 3, 2016 |access-date=10 April 2016 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Kumar Dharmasena has worked as an umpire in 18 matches of ICC World T20, the most by any umpire from Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/individual/most_matches_umpire.html?id=89;type=trophy|title=Cricket Records {{!}} Records {{!}} World T20 {{!}} Most matches as an umpire {{!}} ESPN Cricinfo|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref>

In January 2019, he won the David Shepherd Trophy for the ICC Umpire of the Year at the 2018 ICC Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/980940 |title=Finch, Macleod, Pant and Williamson named for ICC Player Awards |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=22 January 2019}}</ref> In April 2019, he was named as one of the sixteen umpires to stand in matches during the 2019 Cricket World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1198051 |title=Match officials for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 announced |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1182149.html |title=Umpire Ian Gould to retire after World Cup |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref> In July 2019, he was named as one of the two on-field umpires for the second semi-final match, between Australia and England.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1266863 |title=Officials appointed for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup semi-finals |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=7 July 2019}}</ref> Later the same month, he was also named as one of the two on-field umpires for the Cricket World Cup Final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27174119/kumar-dharmasena-umpire-final-jason-roy-controversy |title=Kumar Dharmasena to umpire final despite Jason Roy controversy |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> England won the match in a Super Over.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jul/14/england-new-zealand-cricket-world-cup-final-match-report-super-over|title=England win Cricket World Cup after super-over drama against New Zealand |website=The Guardian|date=14 July 2019 |access-date=1 September 2019 |last1=Marks |first1=Vic }}</ref> He admitted an error at a critical moment in the match, but said he did not regret it. Had the right decision been made, England would have required 4 runs instead of 3 to win off the last 2 balls.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/kumar-dharmasena-admits-his-error-in-world-cup-2019-final-overthrow-controversy-doesnt-regret-decision-7029611.html|title=Kumar Dharmasena admits 'error' in World Cup 2019 final overthrow controversy, doesn't regret decision|date=21 July 2019|agency=Agence France-Presse |website=Firstpost|access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref>

He also umpired the final match of the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup between Pakistan and England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=These 2 umpires to assume on-field duties in Pakistan vs England T20 World Cup 2022 Final – Check |url=https://zeenews.india.com/cricket/pak-vs-eng-t20-world-cup-2022-final-marais-erasmus-and-kumar-dharmasena-to-assume-on-field-duties-confirms-icc-2534244.html |access-date=17 April 2023 |website=Zee News |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2023, he was named as one of the sixteen match officials for 2023 Cricket World Cup.<ref name="2023 Officials">{{cite news |title=Match officials for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 named |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/3676407 |access-date=22 September 2023 |work=icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ICC announce Match Officials for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/3676805 |access-date=22 September 2023 |work=icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Records== * Dharmasena is the one of two people (alongside Richard Illingworth) to have played in a Final of the Cricket World Cup as well as officiated in the final of the World Cup. He had played in the 1996 Cricket World Cup Final and featured as an on-field umpire twice in 2015 and 2019 World Cup finals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kumar Dharmasena First to Play and Umpire in World Cup Final {{!}} Cricket News |url=https://sports.ndtv.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/kumar-dharmasena-first-to-play-and-umpire-in-world-cup-final-1502948 |access-date=9 June 2022 |work=NDTVSports.com |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{ESPNcricinfo|id=48469}}

{{ICC Umpire of the Year}} {{Elite Panel of ICC Umpires}} {{Navboxes |title=Sri Lanka squads |bg=blue |fg=#FFCC00 |bordercolor=#FFCC00 |list1= {{Sri Lanka Squad 1996 Cricket World Cup}} {{Sri Lanka Squad 1997 Asia Cup}} {{Sri Lanka Squad 2002 ICC Champions Trophy}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dharmasena, Kumar}} Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:Sri Lanka One Day International cricketers Category:Sri Lanka Test cricketers Category:Sri Lankan cricketers Category:Cricketers at the 1996 Cricket World Cup Category:Basnahira North cricketers Category:Nondescripts Cricket Club cricketers Category:Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club cricketers Category:Sri Lankan Test cricket umpires Category:Sri Lankan One Day International cricket umpires Category:Sri Lankan Twenty20 International cricket umpires Category:Alumni of Nalanda College, Colombo Category:North Central Province cricketers Category:Sri Lanka Cricket Combined XI cricketers Category:Deshabandu Category:Cricketers from Colombo