India captain
Suryakumar Yadav was one of the eight skippers who sat down in the pre-tournament press conference for the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai on Tuesday. Before taking questions from the media, all captains shook hands with Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chairman and a minister in Pakistan.
That snapshot of Suryakumar Yadav shaking hands with Naqvi immediately went viral on social media.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Naqvi had called the entire episode 'a drama.'
“Pakistan’s economic stability is intolerable for India. The world must see how the country that claims to be the largest democracy is using terrorism to achieve its objectives,” Naqvi said as per Pakistani newspaper
The Express Tribune.
“Pakistan is ready to fully cooperate with any neutral party conducting a probe, as we seek to expose the real perpetrators behind the attack,” Naqvi said at a press conference in Lahore on Saturday, he also told
Geo News.
Following the trophy unveiling and meet-and-greet, all eight captains attended a joint press conference where they expressed their desire to give their best to lift the continental title which begins with Afghanistan vs Hong Kong later today.
Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged that it has been a while since the Indian team played together in the shortest format but hopes to gel together in the T20 format.
“We have not played a game together since June, but as a team, we have to accept this challenge. We’ve been preparing here for the last four days and are confident about adapting quickly,” he stated.
One of the most awaited contest in the Asia Cup will be between India and Pakistan on September 13. They could meet twice more in the competition.
Responding to the question about facing India, the Pakistan skipper Salman Agha said, “Adopting an aggressive approach is the natural strength of fast bowlers. I will not have a special message for this team.
"These conditions are not new to us, and we will try to give our best,” he added.
The 2025 Asia Cup, to be played in the T20 format, features Pakistan, India, Oman, UAE, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
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