A major storm of criticism has erupted following the controversial dismissal of Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match against India. Cricket legends such as Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Yusuf, and Shoaib Akhtar have all sharply condemned the third umpire’s decision.
Zaman, who appeared to be in excellent form, having already hit three boundaries from just nine balls, was controversially given out caught behind off Hardik Pandya in the third over. While wicketkeeper Sanju Samson made a low dive to complete the catch, replays indicated the ball was extremely close to the ground. Despite the lack of definitive evidence, the third umpire upheld the decision, much to the visible frustration of the Pakistani batsman.
Speaking on Samaa TV, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi didn’t hold back his criticism. With a wry smile, he remarked, “Unhone IPL me bhi toh umpiring karni hai [He has to umpire in the IPL too],” strongly implying a potential bias towards India influenced the call. This pointed comment, while eliciting laughter in the studio, highlighted the deep-seated frustration within the Pakistani camp.
Mohammad Yusuf echoed Afridi’s sentiments, emphasizing that Zaman’s departure came at a critical moment when he was beginning to assert dominance over the Indian bowling attack. “They didn’t even bother to review many angles. Fakhar had already struck three fours and confidently faced Jasprit Bumrah in the opening over. His wicket was undeniably crucial for India,” Yusuf expressed with regret.
The ‘Rawalpindi Express’, Shoaib Akhtar, was equally forthright in his assessment on Tapmad, labeling the decision as “wrong.” He questioned the third umpire’s judgment: “Fakhar was not out. With 26 cameras at their disposal, why did the third umpire only review two angles? Had Fakhar remained at the crease, the entire complexion of the match could have shifted.” Akhtar further asserted that the overall standards of umpiring had noticeably declined.
Despite the strong reactions from former players, Pakistan captain Salman Agha acknowledged the contentious nature of the decision but refrained from using it as an excuse for his team’s performance. “Umpires are human and can make mistakes,” he stated. “From my perspective, it appeared the ball had bounced. However, credit must be given to India’s strong bowling performance, and our own inconsistency played a role in the outcome.”
Ultimately, India successfully chased down the target of 172 runs in just 18.5 overs, largely thanks to a commanding 105-run opening partnership between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. Notably, following the match, the Indian players once again bypassed traditional handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, opting instead to acknowledge only the match officials.
Looking ahead, Pakistan is scheduled to play Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, while India will take on Bangladesh on Wednesday in their upcoming Super Four fixture.