Asia Cup 2025, Ind vs Pak Super 4:
The much-anticipated high-voltage clash of the Asia Cup Super-4 is unfolding in Dubai on September 21. Before the match commenced, the ‘No-Handshake Part-2’ drama resurfaced during the toss. India won the toss and chose to bowl first.
During the toss, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav notably ignored his Pakistani counterpart Salman Agha. It was visible on cameras as he averted acknowledgment and turned away.
The scene quickly became the talk of social media, with fans dubbing it 'No-Handshake Part-2.' Such controversies have often been a headline whenever India and Pakistan meet in cricket.
Ravi Shastri was present, along with match referee Andy Pycroft, during the toss. Surya’s demeanor was under scrutiny when he referred to the match as just another game.
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In his statement, Suryakumar declared, "We are opting to bowl first. The pitch looks promising, and considering the dew yesterday, our strategy was developed to play knockout games from the beginning — it remains unchanged. Returning are Bumrah and Varun while Arshdeep and Harshit, who played against Oman, are out."
Conversely, Salman Agha shared, "We would have chosen to bowl as well. It's a fresh match, a new challenge. While the pitch appears slightly slow, we aim for a strong start with both bat and ball. We've made two changes; Hasan Nawaz and Khushdil Shah won't play."
Surya's Ignorance on 14 September:
In a previous encounter on 14 September during Group A, Suryakumar similarly declined a handshake with Salman Ali Agha at the toss and later justified his actions. Post-match, Indian players refrained from handshakes with the waiting Pakistani team, closing the dressing room doors instead.
When queried by a journalist about whether refusing a handshake might be considered unsportsmanlike, Suryakumar replied that some matters transcend sportsmanship. Emphasizing solidarity, he stated that they stood with Pahalgam's victim families, dedicating the victory to the armed forces.
Surya further explained the no-handshake decision was unanimously agreed upon by the government and BCCI, reiterating, "We came here solely to play, and I believe we responded appropriately."
India's Playing-11 against Pakistan Super-4:
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.
Pakistan's Playing XI against India Super-4:
Saam Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed.
