New Delhi: The controversies surrounding the Asia Cup 2025 appear far from resolution, even as the highly anticipated final between arch-rivals India and Pakistan looms large. In a move that has further intensified the already fraught atmosphere, a day before the crunch match, captains Suryakumar Yadav of India and Salman Ali Agha of Pakistan will reportedly not pose together for the traditional trophy photoshoot.
This unprecedented incident has significantly escalated the ‘handshake saga,’ which has become the focal point of the continental tournament’s off-field drama.
According to multiple media reports, including one from Pakistan’s Geo News, the customary pre-final captains’ photo opportunity, initially scheduled for Saturday, has been scrapped. Reports suggest that the Indian contingent declined to participate in the event.
Adding to the spectacle, it was reliably learned that the Indian team took a complete day off, with no player or staff addressing the media ahead of the final. The decision saw India bypass the age-old tradition of the pre-match press conference.
In contrast, Pakistan captain Salman Agha faced reporters, fielding queries about the swirling controversies with a defiant posture. Agha addressed both his team’s approach to the game and his intention to allow his players to express raw emotions on the field.
“Every individual has the right to express emotions. If we stop a fast bowler from showing emotions, what’s left then? I won’t stop anyone as long as it is not disrespectful,” Agha stated.
The controversy over aggression was fueled by Haris Rauf’s provocative gestures during the last encounter between the two sides. However, Agha firmly refused to rein in his fast bowlers, asserting that aggression is an essential component of their craft.
Beyond the on-field tussles, the ongoing noise surrounding the India-Pakistan matches has transcended cricket. Agha also candidly addressed the core of the issue—the handshake incident—expressing his view that it should never have occurred.
He recalled his own history with the fixture, stating, “I started playing U-16 in 2007. I never saw any teams not shaking hands. Even when Indo-Pak relations were worse, we still shook hands.”
Agha further elaborated on the deep-rooted tradition of sportsmanship: “My father is a huge fan of cricket. He also never told me anything about two teams playing a match but not shaking hands,” he added, highlighting the significance of the customary gesture.