Controversy struck the Asia Cup 2025 yet again during a Super Four match between India and Bangladesh as social media questioned the integrity of India captain Suryakumar Yadav and the decision of umpire Ahmed Shah Pakteen (from Afghanistan) following a clear edge that was initially given not out.
The Indian captain, who has been struggling for form, scored just five runs before a contentious dismissal that has since fueled outrage on social media. The incident involved the ball taking a visible deflection off Yadav’s bat before being caught by the wicketkeeper. However, umpire Pakteen gave the decision in favor of the batsman, despite the ball’s angle clearly changing after contact.
Compounding the controversy, Suryakumar Yadav chose not to walk off the field, remaining at the crease until the Bangladesh team chose to use the Decision Review System (DRS). The ensuing TV review quickly confirmed the edge, forcing Yadav to leave.
The refusal to acknowledge a clear dismissal, especially from a team captain, angered many fans. Social media exploded with criticism, not only targeting the umpire for the poor decision but also Yadav for his lack of sportsmanship.
One furious user simply commented, “Shamelessly, umpire and Suryakumar Yadav thought they’d escape this.”
Another fan questioned the player’s integrity, writing, “Forget the umpire, why didn’t SKY walk? Surely, in this day and age, he didn’t think he’ll get away with it. And he’s the captain of his side.”
The umpire faced heavy criticism from others, with one person writing, “I mean – how? How did he not give it out?” and another calling out the judgment: “Very pathetic, funny & ridiculous. Umpiring has been brought to this level that even the ball deflected after touching the bat was not given out.”
Accusations of deception also surfaced, as a user noted, “Special cheaters and how he made himself unaware…Great actors.” While one commenter focused on the inconsistency of the umpire, saying, “If according to him it wasn’t out then why he didn’t give wide ball? Chutiya umpire.”
The incident has intensified calls on social media for the BCCI to reconsider the team’s composition and potentially bring back players like Shreyas Iyer.
Yadav’s minimal contribution of five runs comes amid an ongoing dip in his form since taking on the captaincy, which remains a key concern for the Indian team. Despite India winning most of their fixtures, Yadav’s consistency has been minimal.