Salman Ali Agha Reacts to Fakhar Zaman’s Controversial Dismissal Against India
September 22, 2025
Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has expressed his views on the debated dismissal of opener Fakhar Zaman during the Asia Cup Super Four clash against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Agha said the decision appeared unclear.
“I don’t know about the decision. As far as I am concerned, it looked like the ball bounced before being collected. Obviously, it’s the umpire’s job and they can make mistakes. I have no problem with that. But to me, it did look like it bounced,” Agha remarked.
He further added that Fakhar’s continued presence at the crease could have boosted Pakistan’s total.
“The way Fakhar was batting, if he had stayed through the powerplay, we could probably have scored around 190,” he said.
The dismissal incident
The moment occurred in the third over of Pakistan’s innings. Fakhar Zaman attempted to drive an off-cutter from Hardik Pandya and edged the ball towards wicketkeeper Sanju Samson.
Samson dived forward to complete the catch, but with the ball appearing close to the ground, the on-field umpires referred the matter to the third umpire. After reviewing several replays, third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge ruled Fakhar out, a decision that surprised both the batter and spectators.
On returning to the dugout, Fakhar was seen in discussion with head coach Mike Hesson, indicating his surprise at the verdict.
Mixed reactions
The decision quickly became a talking point across social media platforms, with fans and former cricketers questioning the standard of officiating in such a high-profile contest.
Former Pakistan players Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Amir, and Fawad Alam were among those who voiced strong criticism of the ruling.
Match summary
Despite a steady batting effort from Pakistan, who posted 171-5 in 20 overs, India chased down the target in 18.5 overs with four wickets in hand. Opener Abhishek Sharma guided the chase with a brilliant 74 off 39 balls, sealing India’s second consecutive win against Pakistan in the tournament.
India will now face Bangladesh in their next Super Four fixture at the same venue on Wednesday.
