'Umpire needs IPL contract' - Shahid Afridi slams Fakhar Zaman's dismissal in IND vs PAK as wrong decision

Mayank Bande

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'Umpire needs IPL contract' - Shahid Afridi slams Fakhar Zaman's dismissal in IND vs PAK as wrong decision image

Pakistan's clash against India in Asia Cup 2025 Super Fours in Dubai on Sunday once again sparked controversy when Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman found himself in an unfortunate situation where he was given out on a close call.

The incident happened at 2.3 over mark, when Zaman edged Hardik Pandya's length delivery outside off to the wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, who took a low catch.

While it was a 50-50 call upon checking with the third umpire, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, the batter was given out after looking dangerous at the start of the innings.

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Zaman walked back at 15(9), having struck three fours. Shahid Afridi made a bold claim and accused the umpires of favoring India to earn IPL contracts.

Shahid Afridi criticizes the umpire over Fakhar Zaman's controversial wicket

Pakistan had expressed disappointment with the on-field umpiring decisions of the Sri Lankan official, Palliyaguruge, during the India vs. Pakistan group stage game. The Sri Lankan was once again dragged for his decision during the Super Four clash, this time for his decisions as the TV umpire.

While reviewing the match on Samaa TV in Pakistan, Afridi looked furious and took a jibe at the integrity of the umpires.

READ MORE: Shoaib Akhtar rips into Pakistan coach after another loss vs India

"They also have to officiate the IPL matches. The benefit of doubt has to go to the batter — the ball was clearly grassed," said Afridi.

Former captain and batter Mohammad Yousuf, on the same panel, seemed in agreement with the former all-rounder. He reiterated Afridi's statement and felt Pakistan's momentum was dented due to the official's poor umpiring.

This is not the first time that Afridi has grabbed headlines in the ongoing tournament. He was heavily involved in the back-and-forth between himself and Irfan Pathan for a month, having made some controversial remarks on the former Indian pacer.

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Mayank Bande

Mayank Bande has been a content producer at The Sporting News since 2023 and has extensive experience in cricket writing. His work has previously appeared on platforms like OneCricket and Last Word on Sports. Beyond cricket, Mayank closely follows football as an FC Barcelona supporter, along with tennis and Olympic sports. Despite holding a degree in Business Administration, he chose to pursue a career in sports, bringing sharp analysis to his writing as someone who once played cricket.