NEW DELHI: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha addressed questions about India captain Suryakumar Yadav reportedly skipping the pre-final captain’s photoshoot ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 final. When asked about the incident, Agha maintained a diplomatic stance, saying it was entirely up to the Indian team whether they wanted to attend.“They can do whatever they want, we will just follow the protocol. The rest is up to them—if they want to come, they come, and if they don’t, we can’t do anything,” Agha told reporters during a press interaction ahead of Sunday’s clash.He also emphasised the team’s focus on cricket amid media attention. “We don’t focus on what we can’t control. Media talk, outside noise—we ignore it. Our goal is the Asia Cup. We came here to play good cricket, and tomorrow we’ll aim to win the final,” he said.The much-anticipated final will take place on September 28 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, marking the third meeting between India and Pakistan in the tournament.“I won’t reveal strategy, but as I’ve said, it depends on conditions. In the first match, the pitch turned, so we started with spin. Later, it didn’t, so we used pace. It’s always about reacting to conditions in the moment,” the Pakistan captain added.Agha also reflected on the pressure of India-Pakistan clashes. “Yes, Pakistan-India games always carry pressure. If I say otherwise, it would be wrong. But the truth is, we made more mistakes than them, which is why we lost. In these games, the team that makes fewer mistakes usually wins. Tomorrow, our goal is to reduce mistakes,” he said.India have maintained a perfect record against Pakistan in this tournament, winning both the group-stage and Super Four encounters. With momentum on their side, they aim to continue their dominance.For Pakistan, the stakes are high. The Men in Green will look to avenge their previous losses and claim their third Asia Cup title.
