India Beat Pakistan in Asia Cup Clash, Fakhar Zaman's Controversial Dismissal Sparks Debate
Since the soft signal from the on-field umpire was officially scrapped on June 1, 2023, it was no longer required when Fakhar's dismissal was referred to the third umpire.
India registered a dominant 6-wicket win over Pakistan in Sunday’s high-voltage Asia Cup clash, further solidifying their supremacy in the regional rivalry. While the result was emphatic, it was Fakhar Zaman’s controversial dismissal that became the focal point of post-match conversations, drawing sharp opinions from fans and former cricketers alike.
The moment unfolded in the third over of Pakistan’s innings when Fakhar edged a delivery from Hardik Pandya behind the stumps. Sanju Samson, keeping wickets, dived forward to claim the catch. The on-field umpire, uncertain, referred the decision to the third umpire. With soft signals officially removed from the game since June 1, 2023, the final call rested solely on the video evidence.
Replays showed Samson lunging forward, gloves low to the turf and his left knee grounded. The visuals were slowed and zoomed in, freezing at various points to assess whether the ball touched the ground. After reviewing multiple angles, the third umpire deemed it a clean catch and gave Fakhar out — a decision that didn’t sit well with the batter, who walked off visibly unhappy.
According to MCC’s Law 33.2.2.1, a catch is considered fair even if the fielder’s hand holding the ball touches the ground — as long as the ball is securely held and not grounded before the catch. A close-up clip doing rounds online appears to support the umpire's decision, showing Samson’s fingers under the ball as he completed the catch.
Despite that, opinions remain divided. Pakistan’s Agha Salman voiced his disagreement post-match. “To me, it looked like it bounced before reaching the keeper,” he said, while acknowledging the human element in umpiring. “I might be wrong, but so could the umpire. Fakhar was in good touch, and had he stayed through the powerplay, we could’ve posted 190.”
While the debate continues, the incident has reignited the long-standing conversation around technology in cricket and the interpretation of close calls — especially in high-stakes games like India vs Pakistan.