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The stage is set for the action-packed Asia Cup 2025 final which is set to be played on September 28 at the Dubai International Stadium. This highly anticipated clash promises intense drama and high stakes as both teams compete for the coveted continental title. Ahead of the final, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha addressed the controversy surrounding the handshake incidents that occurred in the earlier stages of the tournament. During the group-stage match, India captain Suryakumar Yadav notably refused to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart after the match, also skipping the customary post-match handshake ceremony.
Salman Ali Agha on no-handshake controversy ahead of IND vs PAK Asia Cup final
The no-handshake drama continued into the Super 4 encounter, where Indian players left the field immediately after their victory, only exchanging handshakes with the umpires. Addressing this recurring issue, Agha emphasized that such actions set a poor precedent for the spirit of the game, underscoring his team's concern with the breach of sporting tradition.
"As far as handshakes are concerned, I've been playing professional cricket since 2007 at the under-16 level. I've never seen two teams not shaking hands during a match. Even my father is a big cricket fan, and I've heard stories about the game from him. He never mentioned that two teams playing cricket didn't shake hands," said Agha in the pre-match press conference.
"India and Pakistan have faced each other before, even when relations between the countries were worse, and handshakes always happened. According to me, no handshakes are not good for cricket. We don't focus on what we can't control. Media talk, outside noise-we ignore it. Our goal is the Asia Cup. We came here to play good cricket, and tomorrow we'll aim to win the final," Agha added.
Salman Ali Agha expressed strong confidence in his team's prospects for the final. He stated:
"Inshallah, you'll see us winning. If we play our best cricket and execute for 40 overs, we can beat any team."
The Asia Cup final clash in Dubai carries enormous weight, not only as the Asia Cup decider but also as another chapter in the India–Pakistan rivalry. This historic rivalry, however, has recently been diminishing due to the Men in Green's losing streak against the Blue brigade. India enter the final undefeated, buoyed by strong performances from key players like Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav, and a cohesive effort from their bowling unit. Meanwhile, Pakistan, having lost to India twice in the ongoing tournament, will look overcome the demons and put on a show in the summit clash.
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