The Asia Cup 2025 final build-up has taken a dramatic turn after India skipper Suryakumar Yadav skipped the traditional trophy pose with his Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha. In a surprising twist, Salman was left posing alone with the silverware, fuelling chatter of growing tension between the two sides.
The rivalry between India and Pakistan has intensified through the tournament, with off-field incidents grabbing as many headlines as the cricket itself. Earlier, India refused to partake in the customary handshake with Pakistan, dedicating their stance to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. The matter escalated when the PCB accused match referee Andy Pycroft of blocking the handshake and even threatened to pull out unless he was replaced—an ultimatum that the ICC flatly rejected.
Now, with Suryakumar’s conspicuous absence from the pre-final trophy shot, the drama has spiralled further. Fans on both sides are divided: some argue the Indian skipper is making a strong statement of solidarity, while others believe the gesture adds unnecessary fuel to an already charged contest.
Salman Agha himself tried to downplay the tension, saying, “I have not seen anything like this before. It isn’t good for cricket,” but his solo trophy picture told its own story. With India dominating on-field performances so far, the spotlight before the final rests firmly on the escalating theatrics off the field.
