Dubai, September 27, 2025: The much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 final between Pakistan and India will take place on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, but the traditional pre-final trophy shoot featuring both captains will not be held this year.
Organisers confirmed on Saturday that no such ceremony was scheduled, adding that a final decision on whether the captains would pose together with the trophy would only be made on match day.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha is due to address a press conference at 7:00 PM (PST) today, while the team will conduct their final training session at the ICC Academy in Dubai from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (PST).
The move comes amid a series of controversies over player interactions between the two sides. During the group-stage clash, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav declined the customary handshake with Salman Ali Agha at the toss. The situation repeated at the end of the match, when Suryakumar, after hitting the winning runs, walked off without greeting the opposition.
Following the incident, Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema lodged a protest with the match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing India of breaching customary courtesies and criticising the referee’s handling of the matter. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later said Pycroft had apologised, describing the episode as a “miscommunication.”
Tensions resurfaced during the September 21 Super Four clash, where both teams once again skipped handshakes before and after the game. According to the PCB, Pycroft subsequently apologised a second time to Salman Ali Agha and the team management, reiterating that the matter had arisen due to miscommunication.
The final, already high in stakes, is expected to be played under intense scrutiny as off-field tensions continue to overshadow on-field action.
