The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final between cricket rivals India and Pakistan, held on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, quickly escalated into a fresh wave of controversy, with Pakistani pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf at its epicenter.
Just before the high-octane match began, a solemn moment for national anthems quickly turned contentious. After Pakistan’s anthem concluded, and as India’s ‘Jana Gana Mana’ played, television cameras caught Shaheen and Haris engaged in casual conversation. This seemingly minor act was instantly amplified across social media, drawing widespread condemnation and accusations of disrespect from fans and commentators alike.
This controversial moment only intensified the already heated atmosphere of the final. It followed closely on the heels of another contentious pre-match event: India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, famously maintained his ‘no handshake’ policy with Pakistani players. At the toss, he cordially greeted broadcaster Ravi Shastri but conspicuously bypassed former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis. Continuing a pattern from previous group stage and Super Four matches, Yadav also opted not to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, further underscoring the simmering rivalry.
Adding another layer of oddity to the pre-game theatrics, the toss ceremony itself deviated from tradition. Ravi Shastri interviewed the Indian captain, while former Pakistani great Waqar Younis separately handled Pakistan’s captain. This unusual arrangement, with different broadcasters for each team’s leader, highlighted the unique tension surrounding this highly charged encounter.
For the Indian side, the evening took a grim turn even before the first ball was bowled. Captain Suryakumar Yadav announced at the toss that key all-rounder Hardik Pandya would be sidelined due to a niggle. Pandya’s absence was a substantial blow, given his formidable record and match-winning performances against Pakistan in past high-stakes encounters, leaving a noticeable gap in India’s team composition.
Between the controversies surrounding handshakes, national anthem protocols, and unexpected team selections, the atmosphere was thick with emotion, perfectly setting the stage for a truly unforgettable and fiercely contested final.