NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar did not 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.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on Tapmad post-match, Akhtar was forthright. “Fakhar out nahi tha. Benefit of doubt jana chahiye tha usko….idhar se mujhe angle nahi mil raha, kyun nahi mil raha angle? 26 camera lage hai, angle nahi mil raha. Do usne angle dekhe aur usne decision de diya usne. Jisme ek me saamne lag raha tha. Shayad match ban jata agar Fakhar khel jata. Overall, umpiring ka level mujhe mazedaar nahi laga, third umpiring ka. Clear lagta hai, niche ball hai [Fakhar wasn’t out. He should have gotten the benefit of the doubt... He [umpire] can’t see the angle from here, why can’t he see the angle? There are 26 cameras, yet no angle is 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 is down],” Akhtar said.
The incident unfolded in the third over of Pakistan’s innings. Fakhar Zaman had raced to 15 off 9 balls, hitting three boundaries, before attempting to steer an off-cutter from Hardik Pandya. The ball took a faint edge and flew to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, who dived low to claim the catch. The decision was referred to the third umpire, who, after checking multiple angles, ruled Fakhar out. Replays appeared inconclusive, showing the ball perilously close to the turf, leaving Fakhar visibly frustrated as he walked back.
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While Pakistan captain Salman Agha acknowledged the call was debatable, he stressed that India’s disciplined bowling and his team’s own inconsistencies were the main reasons for the 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 said.Akhtar, however, highlighted a perceived decline in the standard of third-umpiring, pointing out that even with 26 cameras, the decision seemed hasty. He added that Fakhar’s wicket “could have changed the match” had he continued, emphasising the psychological impact of the call on Pakistan’s batting momentum.India went on to chase down 172 in 18.5 overs, with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill putting on a blistering 105-run opening stand, silencing Pakistan’s pace attack and effectively putting the contest beyond doubt.This time too, Team India refrained from shaking hands with their rivals. Batters Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya went went directly to the Indian camp and then later came out only to shake hands with the match officials. India’s next match in the Super Fours stage is against Bangladesh on Wednesday, while Pakistan fly to Abu Dhabi to take on Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
