By Manisha Sahu, America News World Sports Desk
September 22, 2025
The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025 delivered high drama both on and off the field. While India outclassed their arch-rivals with a comprehensive six-wicket win, the match’s biggest talking point was not the margin of victory but Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal. The Pakistan opener’s edge off Hardik Pandya, caught by Sanju Samson behind the stumps, has ignited a heated debate over whether the catch was clean — bringing the ICC rules and MCC Laws of Cricket back into the spotlight.
The Moment of Controversy
It was only the third over of Pakistan’s innings when Pandya produced a sharp delivery outside off-stump. Fakhar Zaman, looking to punch through the covers, got a faint edge. Sanju Samson, keeping wickets for India, lunged forward to take the catch low to the ground. On-field umpires referred the decision to the third umpire, bypassing the soft signal requirement — a rule that was scrapped on June 1, 2023.
Replays showed Samson diving forward, his gloves grazing the turf while his left knee was grounded. From certain angles, it appeared the ball might have touched the ground before being secured. After reviewing multiple slow-motion angles and freeze-frames, the TV umpire ruled Fakhar out. The Pakistani batter looked visibly frustrated as he walked back to the pavilion, sparking instant reactions on social media and among former cricketers.
Former Players Cry Foul
Several ex-Pakistan cricketers criticized the decision, insisting that Fakhar should have been given the benefit of the doubt. “That was not a clean catch,” one former captain wrote on X (formerly Twitter), while another said the dismissal was “a disgrace to modern-day technology.” The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), according to reports, is even considering filing a formal complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Meanwhile, Salman Agha, Fakhar’s teammate, openly questioned the verdict after the match. “It looked like it bounced ahead of the keeper to me,” Agha said. “Of course, I might be wrong, but so might the umpire. If Fakhar had batted through the powerplay, we could have easily been looking at 190. Decisions like these change matches.”
What the Rules Actually State
With heated arguments on both sides, the key question is — what do the rules really say?
Under MCC Law 31.6 – Consultation by Umpires, when in doubt, umpires are expected to consult each other. If doubt persists even after consultation, the batter must be given not out. However, with the advent of technology, the third umpire now has the final authority in such close calls.
More importantly, MCC Law 33.2.2.1 clarifies that:
“The ball is considered held in the hand or hands of a fielder, even if the hand holding it touches the ground, is hugged to the body, lodges in the external protective equipment worn by a fielder, or becomes accidentally trapped in a fielder’s clothing.”
This means that as long as Samson had his fingers firmly under the ball and maintained control, even if his gloves brushed the ground, the catch stands as legal.
Video evidence circulating online supports this interpretation. A close-up shows Samson’s gloves underneath the ball, with no daylight visible between leather and fingers. The umpire’s decision, therefore, appears consistent with both ICC playing conditions and MCC Laws.
No More Soft Signal
It is worth noting that this controversy might have been even greater had the soft signal rule still been in place. Before June 2023, on-field umpires were required to make a soft signal (out or not out) before referring decisions upstairs. The third umpire would then need conclusive evidence to overturn that call. Critics often argued this put unnecessary pressure on TV umpires.
With the scrapping of the soft signal, the Fakhar dismissal was judged solely on video evidence — which, in this case, pointed towards the ball being cleanly taken.
Divided Reactions
Reactions, however, remain split. While Indian supporters hailed Samson’s reflexes and the umpire’s clarity, many Pakistani fans flooded social media with hashtags like #NotOutFakhar. Some compared the dismissal to previous contentious catches in high-profile games, claiming inconsistency in umpiring decisions.
Veteran Indian cricketers, meanwhile, defended the call. “People need to understand the rule,” one former wicketkeeper-batsman said during a TV debate. “It’s not about what it looks like at one angle. What matters is control and whether the ball touched the ground. In this case, it did not.”
Bigger Picture
Beyond the dismissal, India’s all-round performance overshadowed Pakistan’s batting frailties. Hardik Pandya’s new-ball burst, coupled with a fluent chase led by Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, ensured India maintained their dominance in the Asia Cup rivalry. But for Pakistan, Fakhar’s early departure reopened wounds of inconsistency in high-pressure matches.
The PCB’s reported decision to escalate the matter to ICC reflects the larger stakes involved whenever India and Pakistan face off. Cricket between the two nations is rarely just about runs and wickets — it’s about pride, history, and emotions running high.
Conclusion
While Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal will remain a point of debate, the laws of cricket appear to back the umpire’s verdict. Sanju Samson’s catch, though controversial at first glance, was executed within the rules. The incident once again highlights how cricket’s technological advancements, though designed to eliminate doubt, sometimes fuel fresh controversies.
As India marches forward in the Asia Cup and Pakistan searches for answers, one thing is clear: moments like these are what make an India-Pakistan clash unforgettable.
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