- By Gurmeet Batra
- Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Asia Cup 2025: In the Asia Cup 2025 press conference, India captain Suryakumar Yadav reportedly did not shake hands with the Pakistan skipper, Salman Agha and it's worth noting that the leaders were seated with Afghanistan's Rashid Khan between them
With the continental showpiece taking place from Tuesday, the captains of the participating teams gathered for a pre-tournament conference. However, the exchanges between India and Pakistan captains were noticeably frosty, with both skipper reportedly avoiding each other.
While Suryakumar warmly embraced Afghanistan skipper Rashid and a few other captains, he noticeably didn't trade pleasantries with Pakistan's Salman, who hurriedly departed the stage.
At the Asia Cup Captains’ Press Conference, the Indian and Pakistani skippers avoided a handshake. pic.twitter.com/4Xlv1emCB0
— Gyanu Gautam (@gyanudatt8) September 9, 2025
The avoidance of handshake and acknowledgement set the tone high for the upcoming high-voltage clash between the two rival nations.
India will kick off its Asia Cup 2025 campaign on Wednesday with a Group A match against the United Arab Emirates, followed by a highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.
Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha on IND vs PAK clash
India skipper Suryakumar and Pakistan skipper had identical views when asked about controlling their players' aggression in the blockbuster clash.
"Temper? Sir, aggression is always there on the field when we take the field. And without aggression, I don't think you can play this sport. And I'm sure, I'm very excited to take the field on the front foot," Suryakumar replied when asked whether players will be told to dial down the intensity in the much-awaited Sunday clash of the T20 event.
Salman held a similar view on aggression, stating, "Well, you don't need to say anything to any player. Because everyone is individually very different. If someone wants to be aggressive on the field, they are more than welcome to do that. When it comes to fast bowlers, they are always aggressive."