The 2025 Asia Cup became a focal point for India-Pakistan tensions, with each match sparking some form of dispute. A significant incident occurred during the final, where Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha declined to engage with Indian commentator Ravi Shastri during the coin toss.
Pre-tournament anticipation was high, and on-field clashes mirrored the off-field atmosphere. The final’s atmosphere was watched with keen interest to see if the situation would de-escalate or worsen. However, prior to the start of play, an unexpected event unfolded.
Ravi Shastri had been the designated commentator for the toss in India’s matches, including the previous India-Pakistan encounters. For the final, former Pakistan captain and commentator Waqar Younis was present, covering the match. Agha’s decision to not speak to Shastri led to Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav communicating with Shastri, while the Pakistani captain addressed Waqar Younis during the toss.
This is a rare occurrence in cricket, where commentators from each nation were used for the toss interviews with the respective team captains.
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