Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha opened up on India`s refusal to shake hands with them by saying that it is not good for cricket.
Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan is all set to lock horns against the “Men in Blue” in the Asia Cup 2025 final at the Dubai International Stadium on September 28.
Salman then said that he has been playing the game of cricket since 2007 and has not witnessed any game ending without a handshake.
“I have been playing competitive cricket since 2007 and have never seen a game go without a handshake,” he said.
“It is not good for cricket. Even in worst times between Pakistan and India, players have shaken hands. My father is a great fan of cricket, and he never told me that such a thing happened,” added the Pakistani skipper.
Talking more about the controversial gestures made by Pakistan`s Sahibzada Farhan and pacer Haris Rauf in the previous match against Team India, the skipper said that he gives free hand to his players to react to the situations.
“I think every individual has his own style. If someone wants to be aggressive on the ground, then why not. If you control the aggression of a fast bowler, then nothing is left. Every player knows how to deal with his emotions. I give free hand to my players to react on the ground unless he is disrespecting other players and the country,” said the 31-year-old cricketer.
The Pakistan skipper said his team will follow the protocols for a captains` photo shoot with the trophy on Sunday, which India is likely to boycott. “They do what they want to do,” said Agha.
“We will do what is in our protocol. Rest is up to them, if they want to come for that it`s up to them. If they do not want to come, don`t come,” said Salman.
Asia Cup 2025 final India vs Pakistan: Squads
India`s squad for Asia Cup 2025: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh.
Pakistan`s squad for Asia Cup 2025: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
(With AFP Inputs)