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Pakistan captain Salman Agha does not want his pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf to curb their aggression when they take the field against India at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the T20 Asia Cup 2025 final. Tempers flared when the two met in the Super Fours clash. Afridi and Rauf were bashed by Indian openers and even their personal attacks were rendered impactless. While Rauf got reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his provocative gestures, Agha feels that the bowlers did not cross the line and will continue to do so in the final.
"If someone wants to be aggressive on the ground, then why not," Agha said at the pre-match press conference on September 27. "If you deprive a fast bowler of their aggression, then what's left? Every player knows how to deal with their emotions. I give players license to react the way they want at the ground. As long as they're not disrespecting anyone and stay within the line, I have no issues with that."
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Agha on Suryakumar’s ‘no rivalry’ comment
Agha was also asked about India captain Suryakumar Yadav saying that there is no rivalry between the two teams. He made the comment after India’s comfortable win over Pakistan in the Super Fours clash. The Pakistan skipper said that the pressure in a final game is different.
"It would be wrong to say a Pakistan-India match doesn't carry more pressure," he said. "It's the final. There'll be a similar amount of pressure on both sides. The pressure of a final is different, of course.
"We can't control what's happened out of the ground. One of our philosophies is to not worry about what we can't control. We are not focused on what people on the outside are saying. We're here to win the Asia Cup and that's our only focus."
History awaits Suryakumar’s men
This will be the first time in the history of Asia Cup, India and Pakistan will go up against each other in the final. Also, India have scores to settle as the last final between the two was played in Champions Trophy 2017 where India faltered in the run chase.
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