Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his anger at what he described as “ridiculous umpiring” during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. The controversy centered around Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal, which Akhtar believes was unfair and potentially a turning point in the match.
The incident occurred in the third over of Pakistan’s innings when Fakhar, batting on 15 from 9 balls, edged an off-cutter from Hardik Pandya to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. Fakhar was adamant that the ball had touched the ground before being collected, but after a quick review by the third umpire, he was given out. The decision left Fakhar visibly stunned and sparked outrage from fans and former cricketers alike.
Akhtar, speaking on a Pakistani channel, criticized the officials for rushing the decision without using all available technology. “Fakhar wasn’t out. The benefit of the doubt should have gone to the batter. There are 26 cameras in the stadium, but somehow they only used two angles. It was shocking. The ball clearly bounced before reaching the gloves,” said the Rawalpindi Express.
Despite a strong start of 23 runs in the opening 15 balls, Pakistan struggled after Fakhar’s departure. Sahibzada Farhan’s half-century helped Pakistan reach 171/7, setting India a target of 172. However, Indian openers produced a blistering 105-run stand, and Tilak Varma sealed the chase with seven balls remaining, handing India their seventh consecutive win over Pakistan in international cricket.
Akhtar insisted that had Fakhar continued, the match outcome could have been very different, calling the umpiring standards “a joke.” His remarks have intensified the debate over the quality of decision-making in high-profile cricket tournaments.