In a first in international cricket history, two former players conducted snap interviews during match toss when Ravi Shastri and Waqar Younis lined up for the final of the Asia Cup 2025 ay the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday evening. Shastri spoke to India captain Suryakumar Yadav while Pakistan skipper Salman Agha chatted with Younis.
According to a report by news agency PTI, Shastri was officially assigned by the broadcaster to speak with both the captains at the toss time.
However, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent a request to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) asking for a neutral presenter. When ACC approached BCCI with the request, it was turned down with the Indian cricket board maintaining Shastri won’t be replaced.
“Toss update:
India won the toss and elected to bowl 🏏🔥 All eyes now on Pakistan’s batting! 💚🇵🇰 #AsiaCupFinal”#PakVsInd #AsiaCupFinal #TossTime #CricketFever #DubaiStadium #PCT #TeamGreen #FinalClash #pakistancricket pic.twitter.com/DgmNerfJQT
— Asad Hashmi (@asadhashmi66) September 28, 2025
Eventually, it was decided that Salman will speak to his country’s pace legend Waqar, while Surya would interact with former India head coach Shastri.
Additionally, in a departure from convention, Salman did the trophy shoot alone instead of doing alongside his Indian counterpart.
As per sources in the BCCI, the ACC had never informed them about the toss photo-shoot. It must be mentioned that even during the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados, there were no photoshoots involving India and South African skippers Rohit Sharma and Aiden Markram.
The animosity between the two teams began from their first meeting of the ongoing tournament when Suryakumar didn’t shake hands with Salman at the toss. The Indian team also snubbed Pakistan after the match, shunning the customary post-match handshakes.
The controversy resulted in PCB complaining about match referee Andy Pycroft’s conduct with the ICC and reportedly threatening to boycott the tournament if the Zimbabwean isn’t removed from their matches for the remainder of the event.
