The Super-Four clash between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 took place on September 21 (Sunday) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In this high-stakes match, Pakistan lost the toss and opted to bat first. A change in their opening combination was evident when Fakhar Zaman replaced Sam Ayub alongside Sahibzada Farhan.
Fakhar Zaman attempted to exploit the powerplay with some elegant shots, but his innings was cut short. During the third over, on the third ball, Hardik Pandya delivered an off-cutter that resulted in Zaman being caught by Sanju Samson. The ball edged the bat, landing directly into the gloves of wicketkeeper Sanju, who successfully grabbed the low catch. On-field umpires referred to the third umpire for clarification. After reviewing the replay, the third umpire declared Zaman out. Fakhar, visibly upset, was not convinced by this decision, although it was justified.
Sanju Samson exhibited brilliance with a low catch. Initially, there was no celebration from the Indian players, but Samson was confident in his catch and joined Hardik for a celebration. The decision went to the third umpire, clearly showing in the replay that the ball had touched the bat before reaching Samson.
Sanju Samson secured the ball in his gloves just before it could touch the ground, with his knee brushing the surface. The third umpire utilized zoom technology to confirm the ball's position. Despite Fakhar Zaman's initial hesitation to leave the pitch, he eventually had to walk back to the pavilion.
Fakhar Zaman could barely believe his dismissal. As he returned to the pavilion, he shook his head in disbelief. Standing near the boundary post-decision, Fakhar was visibly frustrated yet had to accept the umpire's final and accurate judgment. Fakhar Zaman addressed his grievance to Pakistani team's coach Mike Hesson, who also showed disagreement by throwing up his hands, feeling the decision was unjustified.
