India, Pakistan captains to skip pre-final photo shoot?:Report says Suryakumar, Salman unlikely to pose with trophy ahead of IND vs PAK final

As India and Pakistan gear up for the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday (September 28) at the Dubai International Stadium, the tension between the arch-rivals has reached a boiling point. Several Pakistani media reports, including one by Geo News, suggest that there will be no traditional captains’ photo shoot before the decider. Meanwhile, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha are also unlikely to shake hands during the toss. Also Read | Abhishek, Hardik, and Tilak injured before final vs Pakistan Frosty ties continue throughout tournament This follows a pattern already seen in the tournament- the two captains did not exchange handshakes at the toss in either of their previous meetings, while Indian players also refrained from post-match greetings after chasing down Pakistan’s totals. Rauf, Farhan, Suryakumar face ICC action The rivalry turned even more bitter during the Super 4 clash when Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf got into a heated altercation with India opener Abhishek Sharma. Rauf, along with teammate Sahibzada Farhan, was later penalised by the ICC for provocative gestures aimed at the crowd. Rauf lost 30% of his match fee, while Farhan received an official warning. Suryakumar too was not spared, as the ICC fined him 30% of his match fee for his military-style tribute to the Indian armed forces following a group-stage win. India eye hat-trick of wins On the field, however, India have been dominant- winning both matches against Pakistan comprehensively in the tournament. With Suryakumar at the helm, the Men in Blue will be eyeing a hat-trick of wins to clinch the Asia Cup trophy. Hardik’s fitness key for India All eyes will also be on Hardik Pandya’s fitness. The all-rounder bowled only one over against Sri Lanka in the Super 4s before leaving the field, and India will be desperate to have him back at full tilt for the big final. Also Read | Five survivors from last IND-PAK final return for title decider Pakistan face uphill task For Pakistan, the challenge is clear: they will need a near-perfect performance to overcome a dominant Indian side and secure only their third Asia Cup title.