Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has strongly criticized the third umpire’s decision to give Fakhar Zaman out during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match in Karachi. Speaking on a television show after the match, Akhtar said Fakhar was not out and should have been given the benefit of the doubt.
He further questioned why the correct angle was not available despite the use of 26 cameras. According to him, the umpire relied on just two angles, and one of them showed the ball appearing to hit from the front. Akhtar suggested that had Fakhar continued his innings, the match could have taken a different turn.
The former pacer also expressed dissatisfaction with the standard of third umpires, stressing that in such situations, the decision should clearly establish whether the ball had touched the ground or not. He added that the replays seemed contradictory and failed to provide clarity.
It is worth noting that earlier, Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, also hinted at the possibility of an incorrect decision, saying that the team felt the ball had touched the ground, but ultimately, the umpire’s verdict prevailed.
