NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar didn’t hold back in his critique of umpiring after Pakistan’s six-wicket defeat to India in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash in Dubai on Sunday. Akhtar focused particularly on the contentious dismissal of opener Fakhar Zaman, describing it as a “wrong decision” that could have changed the course of the match.
Speaking on Tapmad post-match, Akhtar was forthright, stating, “Fakhar wasn’t out. He should have gotten the benefit of the doubt… He [the umpire] couldn’t see the angle from here, why couldn’t he see the angle? There are 26 cameras, yet no clear angle was visible. He looked at two angles and made his decision. In one, it seemed to hit the front. Maybe the match would have turned if Fakhar had played. Overall, I didn’t find the level of umpiring, especially third umpiring, satisfactory. It clearly looks like the ball was down.”
The incident unfolded during the third over of Pakistan’s innings. Fakhar Zaman had already scored 15 runs off just 9 balls, including three boundaries, before attempting to guide an off-cutter from Hardik Pandya. The ball appeared to take a faint edge and was caught by wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, who dived low to complete the catch. The decision was referred to the third umpire, who, after reviewing multiple angles, ruled Fakhar out. Replays, however, appeared inconclusive, showing the ball perilously close to the turf, leaving Fakhar visibly frustrated as he walked back to the pavilion.
While Pakistan captain Salman Agha acknowledged that the call was debatable, he emphasized that India’s disciplined bowling and his team’s own inconsistencies were the primary reasons for their defeat. “Umpires can make mistakes. To me, it looked like it bounced before it carried. Umpires can also make mistakes. I can be wrong as well,” Agha commented.
Akhtar, however, reiterated his concern over a perceived decline in the standard of third-umpiring. He questioned the decision-making process, particularly when 26 cameras were available, suggesting the call seemed hasty. He added that Fakhar’s wicket “could have changed the match” had he remained at the crease, highlighting the significant psychological impact of the decision on Pakistan’s batting momentum.
India ultimately went on to chase down the target of 172 runs in 18.5 overs, with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill establishing a blistering 105-run opening stand. Their dominant performance effectively neutralized Pakistan’s pace attack and sealed the victory.