The Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan has been highly anticipated, but the tournament has been marred by controversies even before the final match.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has stated that he welcomes his players being aggressive on the field during the final against India. Agha said that he gives his players a free hand, as long as they are not disrespecting anyone or their country. He added that taking aggression away from a fast bowler would leave "nothing left".
The Asia Cup 2025 has already seen several instances of disciplinary action and heated exchanges. The ICC has fined Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf 30% of their match fees for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. Pakistani batter Sahibzada Farhan received an official warning. Yadav's post-match remarks were seen as alluding to military tensions, which triggered a complaint from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Rauf was fined for making a provocative gesture, and Farhan faced criticism for mimicking gunfire with his bat.
One of the major controversies of the tournament has been the refusal of Indian players, led by Suryakumar Yadav, to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after their matches. This has happened in both the group stage and Super 4 encounters. Pakistan lodged an official protest, calling the move "unsporting" and a violation of the spirit of cricket. Agha himself has said he's never seen teams not shake hands during a match and that it sets a poor precedent. Some reports suggest that match referee Andy Pycroft advised both captains to avoid handshakes due to political sensitivities, but the communication remained unclear.
Earlier in the tournament, there were reports that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) considered withdrawing from the Asia Cup amid escalating tensions. Pakistan also threatened to withdraw unless match referee Andy Pycroft was removed, accusing him of bias. This led to a delayed start to Pakistan’s match against the UAE.
During the second match between India and Pakistan, there were heated exchanges on the field. India complained against Sahibzada Farhan for his taunting half-century finish and against Haris Rauf for unsporting gestures.
Given the events leading up to the final, more controversies could unfold. Suryakumar Yadav was also fined 30% of his match fee for comments perceived to be in connection with victims of the Pahalgam attack.
Despite the controversies, Agha has said that his team is focused on winning the Asia Cup. He also expressed hope that his team has "saved their best for the final". India, the defending champions, have been dominant in the tournament thus far.
