With India and Pakistan set to make their first on-field appearance after the Pahlagam terror attacks, both team skippers were questioned on some politically sensitive topics during the press conference ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha clarified that he didn’t consider any team as favorites when asked if India could start the tournament as the leading contender. He believed that anything can happen in the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket.
During the press conference, Salman wasn’t placed beside Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav. Rather, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan was seated between them, which was indeed a change from the routine practice of positioning the Indian and Pakistani skipper next to each other during captains’ meetings.
‘No One is a Favorite’: Salman Agha
During the interaction, Salman Agha refused to name any teams as the favorites, particularly India, believing that his team had played very good cricket:
“No! I don’t think any team can be a favorite, mainly in T20Is. On a specific day, it becomes important to play a good brand of cricket.
As T20 moves at a fast pace, the game can change completely in just one or two overs,” Agha said.
India Being Treated as a Favorite? Suryakumar Yadav Gives A Sharp Response
Salman Agha’s counterpart, Suryakumar Yadav, was asked the same question on India being treated as a favorite team. Here is what the Indian skipper replied in Hindi:
“ Kya! Kisne Yeh Bola? Maine tho suna hi nahi (it means that What! Who said this? I never heard anything about this,” Suryakumar said.
Furthermore, SKY explained that preparations and confidence matter a lot for playing this shortest format in international cricket:
“See! We have been playing this format for a very long time. You can certainly enter the field with complete confidence only if your preparations are good enough.
Also, it is exciting for me to lead the field from the front. Mainly, it is impossible to play the sport and win any tournament without any aggression,” the Indian captain added.
Salman Agha Gives Freedom to Show On-Field Aggression
As the India-Pakistan clash is set to take place on Sunday, Salman Agha has granted freedom to players to exhibit on-field aggression to defeat India, thereby maintaining the spirit of the sport:
“Yeah! Fast bowlers naturally possess an aggressive approach, and you can’t change that approach. Players are free to show their on-field aggression as long as it adheres to the spirit of cricket. From my side, there won’t be any restrictions,” Agha explained.
Pakistan’s Recent Performance in T20 Cricket
Salman Agha explains how his team has continued to perform well in the recent T20 matches:
The tri-series we won recently served as our preparation for the Asia Cup. Despite the winnings, our focus will be on the tournament to play top-quality cricket and win the Asia Cup, which matters a lot.
For the past four months, we have been playing very good cricket by winning three out of four series.
As a team, we have done our best, and at the same time, we are excited about a new challenge. A lot of new players will participate in the Asia Cup for the first time. But they are prepared for the tournament,” Agha highlighted his team’s performance.
2025 has been one such year for Pakistan, where they have improved their performance in T20Is by winning 3 out of 5 series against these teams:
- New Zealand: Lost the 5-match T20I series by 4-1 (Away).
- Bangladesh: Won the 3-match T20I series by 3-0 (Home).
- Bangladesh: Lost the 3-match T20I series by 2-1 (Away).
- West Indies: Won the 3-match T20I series by 2-1 (Neutral Venue— in the USA).
- Tri Series 2025 in the UAE: Winner (won by 75 Runs vs Afghanistan in the Final).
India: The Most Successful Team In Asia Cup History
Having won eight championship titles out of 16 editions since the inaugural Asia Cup in 1984, India ranks as the tournament’s most successful team and aims for their ninth title.
However, Salman Agha was keen not to name India as their core opponent. Likewise, the Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav avoided any mention of Pakistan and said it would be a great challenge to compete against Asia’s best sides.
India has already started their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the UAE, but the entire focus will be on their upcoming fixture where they will face off against their arch-rivals against Pakistan, on September 14.
Conclusion
After triumphing in the tri-series in the UAE, Pakistan is now all set to begin its Asia Cup 2025 campaign against Oman on September 12 (Friday). But the focus will be on the high-voltage clash against their rival nation, India, on September 14 (Sunday) in Dubai.
It remains to be seen if Pakistan can clinch their third championship title in the Asia Cup under Salman Agha’s captaincy.