New Delhi: What first looked like a frosty exchange between India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agah has taken a completely different turn. Social media erupted after the captains’ press conference in Dubai on the eve of the Asia Cup 2025 when a clip suggested the two skippers had avoided shaking hands. The moment sparked chatter of cold vibes between the traditional rivals, especially with political tensions still running high between the two nations.
The original footage showed Saman leaving the stage swiftly with the Hong Kong and Oman captains once the customary media briefing wrapped up. Meanwhile, Suryakumar stayed back to exchange pleasantries with other skippers from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the UAE. When viewers noticed the absence of a handshake between the India and Pakistan skippers, the clip of the “no-handshake” went viral rapidly.
However, a fresh video has now turned the story on its head. In the extended clip, Salman is seen waiting by the exit before reaching out to shake Suryakumar’s hand. The two even shared a quick hug, putting an end to the speculations that they had deliberately avoided each other. The gesture suggested Salman had recognised how the earlier optics might be interpreted and chose to address it before leaving.
Indian Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan Captain Salman Agha..(This video is for those saying that the Pakistan captain wasn’t sitting next to the Indian players and they didn’t even shake hands)pic.twitter.com/76CSDcJIQW
— Sporttify (@sporttify) September 9, 2025
Looking ahead
The defending champions, India, will begin their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday. On the other hand, Pakistan will open their campaign against Oman on Friday. The two will then lock horns with each other on September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium in their Group A match.
Men in Blue are stepping into a new era in T20 cricket as the tournament marks their first major since the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and will look to keep the winning streak going with an aim to defend the title.