NEW DELHI: The dismissal of Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash against India has ignited a storm of criticism, with former greats Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Yusuf, and Shoaib Akhtar all blasting the third umpire’s decision.Fakhar, who looked in ominous touch with three boundaries off nine balls, was given out caught behind off Hardik Pandya in the third over. Wicketkeeper Sanju Samson dived low to claim the chance, but replays suggested the ball was very close to the turf. Despite inconclusive evidence, the third umpire ruled Fakhar out, leaving the batter furious.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On Samaa TV, Afridi did not mince words. With a mischievous grin, he quipped: “Unhone IPL me bhi toh umpiring karni hai [He has to umpire in the IPL too],” suggesting bias towards India. His comment drew laughter in the studio but underlined Pakistan’s simmering frustration.Yusuf backed him, stressing that Fakhar’s wicket came just as he was dominating India’s attack. “They didn’t even check many angles. Fakhar had hit three fours and handled Bumrah with ease in the first over. His wicket was crucial for India,” Yusuf lamented.
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Was the third umpire’s decision to dismiss Fakhar Zaman justified?
Shoaib Akhtar, speaking on Tapmad, was equally blunt, branding the call a “wrong decision.” “Fakhar wasn’t out. With 26 cameras available, why did the third umpire only check two angles? If Fakhar had stayed, the match might have turned,” the Rawalpindi Express argued, adding that umpiring standards had clearly dropped.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha admitted the call was debatable but refused to use it as an excuse. “Umpires can make mistakes. To me, it looked like the ball bounced, but India bowled well and we were inconsistent,” he said.India went on to chase down 172 in 18.5 overs, with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill powering a 105-run opening stand. Once again, India’s players skipped handshakes with Pakistan, choosing instead to acknowledge only the match officials.Pakistan now head to Abu Dhabi to face Sri Lanka on Tuesday, while India meet Bangladesh on Wednesday in their next Super Four fixture.
