New Delhi, Sep 23 (NationPress) Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has reignited the discussion regarding umpiring standards in the Asia Cup 2025 following Fakhar Zaman’s controversial dismissal during the Super 4 match against India this past Sunday.

While appearing on a panel with Samaa TV, Afridi humorously suggested that the officials “need to work in the IPL also.”

This came amid widespread criticism within Pakistan’s cricket community concerning the third-umpire decision that prematurely ended Fakhar’s promising innings.

The pivotal moment occurred in the third over of Pakistan’s chase after India chose to bowl first. Fakhar, who started confidently with three early boundaries, edged an off-cutter from Hardik Pandya.

Wicketkeeper Sanju Samson lunged forward to catch the ball, but replays seemed to indicate that the ball grazed the ground before being securely held. After a prolonged review, the third umpire deemed the batter out, leaving Fakhar visibly frustrated.

Legendary batsman Mohammad Yousuf supported Afridi's sentiments, lamenting the timing of the dismissal. “He was our key player, starting strong against world-class bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah,” Yousuf noted, suggesting that Fakhar’s early aggression could have changed the game’s dynamics.

Pakistan's captain Salman Ali Agha spoke to reporters post-match, expressing uncertainty about the decision. “I’m not quite sure about the ruling. It appeared to bounce to me. Umpires can err, and that’s understandable. To my eye, it looked like it bounced, but I could be mistaken,” he stated. The captain added that Fakhar’s dismissal robbed the team of momentum. “If he had persisted, I believed we could have reached around 190,” Salman remarked.

Instead, Pakistan managed a total of 172 runs, with Sahibzada Farhan’s resilient 58 being the only highlight of their innings. India easily chased down the target, led by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 74 off 39 balls and Shubman Gill’s fluent 47. The defending champions clinched victory by six wickets with seven balls to spare.

With this defeat, Pakistan’s chances for qualification now depend on their remaining Super 4 matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. However, a potential third clash with India in the final remains a possibility if results favor them.