Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has criticised the third umpire of the India-Pakistan clash in the 2025 Asia Cup super-four, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, for his decision to give Fakhar Zaman out caught in the third over.
It happened on the third ball of the over. Pandya bowled a full-ish off-cutter outside the off-stump, and Fakhar went for a loose poke at it. The ball kissed the outside edge and dipped right in front of wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, who did well to go low and catch it with both hands.
The on-field umpires weren’t convinced and sent it upstairs for Palliyaguruge to take a look. He saw the first angle and wasn’t sure had the ball had touched the ground before reaching Samson’s gloves. Palliyaguruge then asked for a second angle and a zoom
on it, and then believed that Fakhar was out.
“The umpire should have checked more angles,” Akram said on air, as quoted by The Hindustan Times. “If there is no conclusive evidence, then the benefit of the doubt should go to the batter,” he added.
Although it was a close call, many angles showed that the ball was falling right into Samson’s gloves. But like Akram, Zaman also didn’t think that either and hung around shaking his head in frustration, before finally walking off.
Check a video of the wicket here:
Wickets ka ???????????????????????? swaagat, yet again 🤩
Hardik Pandya nicks one off Fakhar Zaman 🔥
Watch #INDvPAK LIVE NOW, on the Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 pic.twitter.com/19fR5GiMn3
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 21, 2025
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