DUBAI: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said on Saturday that his players would be free to show aggression on the field as his side prepared to face arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai on Sunday.
The clash on Sunday marks the first time the two neighbours will meet in an Asia Cup final, adding further intensity to one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries.
Pakistan reached the final with an 11-run win over Bangladesh in their last Super Four match, while India swept through the tournament unbeaten.
“Every individual has their own way. If a player wants to be aggressive, then why not? If you take aggression away from a fast bowler, then there’s nothing left,” Agha told reporters at a pre-match press conference in Dubai.
He was responding to an Indian journalist’s question about whether it was his responsibility to keep emotions in check. “Every player knows how to deal with their emotions. I give the players a free hand unless they are disrespecting someone or causing disrespect to our country,” he added.
The build-up to the final has been marked by controversy after India refused post-match handshakes in their earlier encounters with Pakistan. “I’ve never seen teams not shake hands,” Agha said. “No handshake is bad for cricket.”
Reports also suggested that India captain Suryakumar Yadav had skipped the traditional captains’ photoshoot before the final. “That’s their choice, we have our own protocols to follow,” Agha said. “If he wants to attend, he can attend — but if he doesn’t want to, that’s up to him.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday fined Yadav for breaching the code of conduct after he dedicated India’s September 14 win over Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident victims, comments that Pakistan claimed were political. Pakistan’s cricket board had sought a harsher sanction.
Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf was fined 30 percent of his match fee, while opener Sahibzada Farhan received a warning, for gestures made during the Super Four stage against India.
India go into the final as favourites, having twice beaten Pakistan in the tournament with the help of opener Abhishek Sharma, the top run-scorer, and spinner Kuldeep Yadav, the leading wicket-taker. Pakistan, meanwhile, have struggled with the bat and were dismissed for 127 in their first group meeting with India.
“We know we did not bat well in this tournament. Maybe we kept our best for the final,” Agha said. “The amount of pressure on both teams will be the same. We will try to give our best and win the final.”
Tickets for the high-profile clash at Dubai International Stadium have sold at record prices, with premium hospitality packages reaching nearly $3,000.
Thousands of fans from both countries are expected to pack the ground in what promises to be one of the most watched cricket matches of the year.
