Asia Cup 2025 dispute: Pakistan complain to ICC over Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal, raise issue with Andy Pycroft

Pakistan has formally complained to the ICC about the TV umpire’s caught-behind decision against Fakhar Zaman in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match, questioning the evidence and asking for review.

Pakistan (Image Credit: ACC)

The high-voltage India vs Pakistan Super Four clash in the Asia Cup 2025 has sparked yet another controversy, this time off the field. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially filed a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the dismissal of opener Fakhar Zaman, which they claim was mishandled by the third umpire. The decision has now snowballed into a larger debate on consistency in officiating during high-profile matches.

According to reports, Pakistan’s management believes that the third umpire’s decision to uphold Zaman’s dismissal lacked “conclusive evidence.” Television replays did little to establish clarity, and despite the benefit of doubt traditionally going to the batter, the decision went in India’s favor. The PCB has voiced strong dissatisfaction, suggesting that moments like these can swing the momentum of a tightly contested game.

The controversy intensified as match referee Andy Pycroft’s name surfaced in PCB’s correspondence with the ICC. While Pycroft did not make the direct call, Pakistan has questioned the oversight and regulatory processes in place. They argue that as the match referee, he should ensure that technological interventions are handled with absolute transparency.

"Pakistan team manager Naveed Cheema went to the match referee, Andy Pycroft, to complain but was told that it was not his domain. Alternatively, the manager sent an email to the ICC complaining about the umpire," said sources, as quoted in a report by Telecomasia.net.

"You can say the way he was batting, if he batted throughout the powerplay, we probably would have scored 190. But yeah, that's the umpire's call. And they can make mistakes. I don't know. To me, it bounced before it reached the keeper," he added.

Read Also: Asia Cup 2025 Super Four fixture, schedule, and streaming details.

Umpiring standards under scrutiny after pycroft named in protest

The issue has reignited long-standing concerns about umpiring consistency in Indo-Pak fixtures, where every decision is magnified under immense pressure. Former cricketers and analysts have also voiced their opinions, with some agreeing that Zaman was unlucky while others defended the technology used.

As the Asia Cup 2025 progresses, it remains to be seen how the ICC responds. With Pakistan and India likely to face each other again in the tournament, the governing body will be under pressure to ensure officiating standards remain beyond reproach. The incident has added yet another layer of drama to one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries.

Here is how you can watch Asia Cup online.

Share