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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has escalated tensions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) by filing an official complaint regarding opener Fakhar Zaman‘s disputed dismissal during their Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash against India at Dubai International Stadium on September 21. This latest controversy adds another chapter to the ongoing disputes between Pakistan and cricket’s governing bodies during the tournament.
PCB’s official stance and complaint over Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal
The PCB’s complaint centers on third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge‘s decision to uphold Zaman’s caught-behind dismissal off Hardik Pandya‘s bowling in the third over. Pakistan team manager Naveed Cheema submitted a formal email complaint to the ICC questioning the television umpire’s decision-making process after initially approaching match referee Andy Pycroft.
According to Hindustan Times a PCB insider confirmed that the board believes Zaman was wrongly dismissed, stating: “Yes, we have complained to the ICC about Fakhar Zaman’s dismissal. He was not out, according to us, as the ball didn’t carry properly. We seek an investigation into the matter“. The Pakistan camp argues that the third umpire failed to examine all available camera angles before reaching his verdict.
The incident occurred when Zaman, who had raced to 15 off nine balls, edged an off-cutter from Pandya to wicketkeeper Sanju Samson. After reviewing multiple replays, Palliyaguruge ruled that Samson’s fingers were positioned underneath the ball, making it a clean catch. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed dissatisfaction in the press conference, stating: “It does look like it bounced before it was carried to the keeper“.
Escalating tensions between PCB and ICC
This complaint represents the latest in a series of disputes between the PCB and ICC during the Asia Cup 2025. The tensions began after India’s players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following their group stage victory on September 14. The PCB subsequently demanded the removal of match referee Pycroft, accusing him of failing to uphold cricket’s spirit.
The ICC rejected Pakistan’s initial demands and later reprimanded the PCB for multiple protocol violations, including unauthorized filming in the Players and Match Officials Area. The ongoing confrontation has affected Pakistan’s tournament participation, with the team canceling pre-match press conferences and reportedly refusing questions from Indian journalists.
With Pakistan facing elimination from the tournament, this latest ICC complaint underscores the deteriorating relationship between Pakistani cricket administration and international cricket authorities during an already tense Asia Cup campaign.
