Third Umpire’s Blunder During Pakistan-Australia Game Has Commentators in Splits

Despite a recent DRS blunder, Pakistan's Nasir Hussain will serve as the fourth umpire for the second T20I and an on-field official for the third.

Third Umpire’s Blunder During Pakistan-Australia Game Has Commentators in Splits

Pakistan's T20I against Australia was marred by poor decision-making by the third umpire. (via X)

The first T20I between Pakistan and Australia has drawn attention for the wrong reasons, after an umpiring blunder even left commentators amused. An error occurred during a DRS check involving veteran batter Babar Azam, where third umpire Nasir Hussain made visible errors.

Pakistan and Australia are currently facing off in a three-match T20I series, serving as a preparatory tour for both teams ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Last evening, it marked Australia’s very first match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium after four years, since a 2021-22 series. While it seemed that the visitors would run off with a victory, Pakistan staged a comeback to defeat the Aussies by 22 runs.

Hilarious scenes unfolded during the first innings due to third umpire Nasir Hussain’s perceived lack of focus. The incident occurred in the 14th over of Pakistan’s innings, with Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman on the crease.

With the home team at 123/3 at the time, Adam Zampa bowled a googly to beat Azam, who tried to reverse-sweep the ball, but it instead struck his pad. On-field umpire Ahsan Raza however, deemed it not-out, which prompted the Australians to review the umpire’s decision. 

It set the stage for a dramatic episode, where TV umpire Nasir Hussain got confused by the change in Azam’s stance. Ball-tracking clearly showed that the delivery had pitched outside the off stump and was in line to hit the wickets, until Hussain, confusingly, stated that the ball had ‘pitched outside leg’, deeming Azam a left-hander instead of a right-hander. He was quickly corrected by his fellow TV official. 

Hussain requested that ball-tracking be presented again. However, he made another blunder during the second review, which even left on-field umpire Ahsan Raza, and commentators Ramiz Raza and Wasim Akram in splits.

Hussain erratically instructed the on-field umpire to ‘stay with his original decision of not out’, instead of asking him to change it. Raza, unaware, was ready to signal not-out before the error was rectified by the third umpire.

It has now raised some serious questions over umpiring standards in Pakistan. Furthermore, Babar Azam’s struggles have also been a talking point, as the former captain was poorly dismissed for just 24 runs off 20 balls.

RELATED
Indian Fans Accuse Pakistan Spinner Usman Tariq of Chucking Ahead of T20 World Cup

Pakistan defeats Australia in a T20I for the first time in seven years, lead three-match series 1-0

The Pakistani T20I team will be riding high after having managed to defeat Australia in a T20I for the first time in seven years. Pakistan leads the three-match T20I series 1-0, with the remaining matches to be played at the same venue as the first one, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. 

Pakistan vs. Australia
Pakistan defeated Australia by 22 runs in the first T20I in Lahore. (via Indian Express)

Australia fielded a playing XI without most of its regular players, including captain Mitchell Marsh. The visitors were put to bowl first, as they restricted Pakistan to a first innings total of 168/8. Saim Ayub was the top scorer for Pakistan, hitting a quick-fire 40 runs off 22 balls. In bowling, Adam Zampa picked up a four-wicket haul, while debutant Mahli Beardman impressed with figures of 2/33. 

Chasing a low yet challenging target of 169 runs, the Australian batting order looked way out of place, with Travis Head (23 off 13), Cameron Green (36 off 31), and Xavier Bartlett (34 off 25) being the only major contributors. For the home side, POTM Saim Ayub picked up two wickets, while Abrar Ahmed also finished with figures of 2/10 in his four overs, helping Pakistan triumph by 22 runs in the end. 

Pakistan and Australia will next face each other in the second T20I on January 31, while the final match of the series will be played on February 1. Following this, the two teams will then be on their way to participate in the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. 

Read More: