Asia Cup 2025: "Even when Indo-Pak relations were worse we still shook hands" - Pakistan captain Salman Agha's blunt take ahead of Sunday's final

Pakistan will look to end India's winning streak in the 2025 Asia Cup when the two arch-rivals square off in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, September 28. Salman Agha's men have been defeated by India twice in the competition this year. They lost by seven wickets in the group stage before suffering a six-wicket defeat in the Super 4s.

Apart from India's domination against Pakistan in the two matches, the Men in Blue not shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts has garnered a lot of attention. This started with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav not shaking hands with his opposite number during the toss ahead of the group-stage tie. After India won the match, they went back to the dressing room, not coming to the field for the customary handshakes. The same trend followed in the Super-4 clash.

When asked to give his reactions to India's stand of not shaking hands with Pakistani players, Salman Agha said that this tradition was followed even when the relations between the two countries were worse. The all-rounder was referring to the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, which has strained the relationship between the two neighbouring nations significantly.

"I started playing U16 cricket in 2007. I never saw any teams not shaking hands. Even when Indo-Pak relations were worse we still shook hands," Agha said in the pre-match press conference in Dubai.

Talking about the defeats to India earlier in the tournament, Agha said that his team made more mistakes than the Men in Blue, and that is why they ended up on the losing side.

"India versus Pakistan matches come with baggage of pressure. In the last two games we lost because we made more mistakes," said the Pakistan captain.

India have won six matches in the tournament en route to the final. Meanwhile, Pakistan have won four and lost two games. Agha believes that both teams will have to deal with pressure in the all-important final.

"The final brings the same pressure on both teams. We don't care what the Indian media says. For us, it's only about doing the basics right," he said.

Salman Agha addresses dismal form with the bat

The 31-year-old has struggled to deliver with the bat in the 2025 Asia Cup. He has only aggregated 64 runs in six innings at an average of 12.8 and a strike rate of 78.05. Agha admitted that he hasn't been able to contribute with the bat as much as he would have hoped for.

"Yes, I haven't performed well and my strike-rate hasn't been up to the mark. It's not necessary to bat at 150 strike-rate but to play as per the demand of the situation," he said.