The India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday saw an early controversy when Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman was given out inthe third over. While initially disputed by fans and experts, new footage confirmed India’s wicketkeeper Sanju Samson had taken a clean catch.
The Incident
The dismissal occurred on the third ball of the third over, with Pakistan batting first at the Dubai International Stadium. Fakhar Zaman attempted an offside shot against Hardik Pandya’s off-cutter, edging the ball toward Samson.
Samson dived to take the catch, but with the ball appearing close to the ground, on-field umpires referred the decision to the third umpire. After reviewing multiple angles, the third umpire upheld the appeal, giving Fakhar out. The batter appeared stunned as he trudged back to the pavilion.
Initial Reactions and Debate
Many Pakistani cricket experts disagreed with the decision. Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar challenged the ICC to show all 26 camera angles, while ex-captain Misbah-ul-Haq felt the on-field umpire was hasty. Both argued the ball had touched the ground before reaching Samson’s gloves.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha also expressed doubts after the match, saying:
“I don’t know about the decision. It does look like it bounced before it was carried to the keeper. But that’s the umpire’s call. Umpires can make mistakes.”
Footage Confirms Catch
Fresh, zoomed-in footage shared on social media clearly showed Samson’s gloves beneath the ball, confirming a clean take. This effectively vindicated the third umpire’s decision, showing that Fakhar was rightly dismissed.
India went on to win the match by six wickets, with Fakhar’s early dismissal playing a key role in disrupting Pakistan’s momentum.