“No evidence ball touched ground”: Ex-Umpire Anil Chaudhary supports Sanju Samson’s catch to dismiss Fakhar in India-Pakistan clash
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Former Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary has weighed in on that heated debate over Sanju Samson’s catch to dismiss Fakhar Zaman in the recent India-Pakistan cricket clash. To Chaudhary, it looked like a clean out, with no clear proof the ball touched the ground.
The moment sparked big arguments during the match. Replays showed mixed views—some fans and experts said the ball grazed the turf before Samson scooped it up, while others insisted it stayed airborne. Even Pakistan’s team management pushed back against the call, according to reports from Samaa TV.
Chatting with , Chaudhary explained that the TV umpire could have checked a side-angle replay for clarity. “From what I saw, it seemed out,” he said. “There’s no solid evidence the ball hit the ground before Samson gloved it.” He pointed out cricket’s umpiring rules have changed—no more soft signals from on-field officials. TV umpires make the final call based on what they see. “They might stick with the front view if it satisfies them,” Chaudhary added. “These close calls get debated for years. A side view often tells the real story, but here, I think Fakhar was gone.”
Shifting gears, Chaudhary also paid tribute to the late Dickie Bird, the legendary English umpire who died this week at age 92. Bird was a huge name in cricket umpiring, shaping what fans expect from officials on the field.
“We’d joke about becoming the next ‘big Dickie Bird’ back in our playing days,” Chaudhary recalled with a smile. Bird umpired major Tests and earned massive respect from players. Though Chaudhary never met him face-to-face, he watched Bird officiate a match in Delhi. “He retired before I really broke through, but he handled ODIs, the Asia Cup, World Cup finals—even games in Sharjah when neutral umpires started. At one time, umpiring meant Dickie Bird.”
Yorkshire County Cricket Club shared the sad news on Tuesday, confirming Harold Dennis “Dickie” Bird MBE OBE passed away peacefully at home. Born in 1933 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, Bird started as a player for Yorkshire and Leicestershire, racking up 3,314 runs in 93 first-class matches before injuries ended his batting days. He jumped into umpiring full-time from 1973 to 1996, standing in 66 Tests and 69 ODIs, including three World Cup finals—from the 1975 opener to 1983, when India stunned West Indies to claim the title.
Bird’s charm, fairness, and quirky style won over players and fans everywhere. A lifelong Yorkshire supporter, he even served as the club’s president in 2014, helping them snag two County Championship wins. His legacy in international cricket umpiring lives on as one of the game’s most beloved figures.
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