On Sunday, September 21, SuryakumarYadav-led Team India once again reigned supreme over arch-rivals Pakistan, handing them a six-wicket defeat in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match at the Dubai International
Cricket Stadium in Dubai. While the second defeat for the Men in Green came only in a week’s time, last night’s match too was marred with several controversies like the previous fixture.
Among many was Pakistan opening batter Fakhar Zaman’s controversial wicket. It is to be noted that moment took place on the third ball of the third over after Pakistan were put to bat first. Coming out to bowl his second over of the day and India’s third, Hardik Pandya bowled an off-cutter as Fakhar Zaman looked to play on the off-side. In the process, the Pakistan opener got a faint edge with wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson getting hold of the ball.
Fakhar wasn't out. Umpiring standard was a joke: Shoaib Akhtar
However, Fakhar Zaman was convinced by the decision and went to the third umpire. But the result ended against him, thus walking back after scoring just 15 off nine deliveries. Since this, the wicket has been among controversy with several speculating that the ball was grounded before getting into the gloves. Seeing this, former Pakistan cricketer and legendary speedster Shoaib Akhtar slammed the third umpire’s decision, calling it “unfair”.
Speaking on Pakistani channel Tapmad, Shoaib Akhtar opined, "Fakhar wasn’t out. If there was a split decision on the review, the benefit of the doubt should have gone his way. But what are the chances that they check it using the midwicket camera? There are 26 cameras, but somehow the right angle isn’t available. Wow! And then they just looked at two angles and gave him out.”
The former cricketer further continued, “Who knows, if Fakhar had stayed at the crease, the match might have turned out differently. Umpiring standard was a joke. The ball clearly hit the ground first. The glove was not underneath at all.” It is to be noted that Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha also spoke of the wicket, while claiming that even the umpires can make wrong decisions sometimes.
Speaking at the post-match presser, Salman said, “I don’t really know about the decision. As far as I’m concerned, I thought it bounced. Umpires can make mistakes, and that’s understandable. To me, it looked like it bounced, but I could be wrong. Based on the way he was batting, if he had continued like that through the powerplay, he probably could have scored around 190. Of course, there were some byes and errors, and mistakes happen. I think it bounced just in front of the keeper, but again, I could be wrong.”
