Suryakumar Yadav wanted to avoid Salman Ali Agha at press conference; got caught red-handed when..

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and his India counterpart Suryakumar Yadav grabbed attention during the customary pre-tournament captains’ press conference ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha ignored each other for a handshake during the recent press conference.

On Tuesday, September 8, the captains of all eight Asia Cup 2025 teams participated in the joint press conference to address the media.

India enters the competition as the reigning T20 World Cup champions, while Pakistan secured a victory in the recent tri-series in the UAE, including Afghanistan and the hosts.

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Salman Ali Agha Waits as India’s Suryakumar Yadav Skips Handshake

At the end of the press conference, Salman Ali Agha was the first to leave the stage, along with Oman captain Yasim Murtaza and Hong Kong captain Jatinder Singh.

Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav engaged in a brief conversation with Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan before shaking hands with Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka, Bangladesh captain Litton Das, and UAE captain Muhammad Waseem.

Suryakumar shook hands with Murtaza, then turned to Salman Agha and completed formalities with Jatinder. Notably, Agha had waited beside the exit.

To ye Kia hai BKL? https://t.co/x8tT75au2p pic.twitter.com/QcBYqjo1sP

— Awais 🇵🇰 (@awaiskh_) September 9, 2025

Don’t Think That We Should Make Too Much Out of It - Ruturaj Borkakoty

Journalists from across the subcontinent attended the press conference. According to journalist Ruturaj Borkakoty, the majority of reporters were from India, while fewer came from Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with some from Bangladesh.

Borkakoty stated that the handshake incident between Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha should not be made too much of.

“A big number of journalists arrived, mostly from India. Very few from Pakistan, many more from Bangladesh than from Pakistan, very few from Sri Lanka as well,” he told Sports Today.

"I saw a very cordial press conference, actually," Borkakoty observed. "I really don't think that we should make too much out of it because there was a very brief moment after that press conference was over, as the captains were leaving the stage, and Surya was trying to get to the backside of the conference room, and when Salman Agha shook his hands."

Cordial, Very Brief, Fleeting Moment - Ruturaj Borkakoty

Short clips of the handshake between Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha went viral on social media. However, Ruturaj Borkakoty, who witnessed it firsthand, stated that it was a brief and cordial gesture, without any extended conversation between the two captains.

"It was a very cordial, very brief, fleeting moment. They were not like exchanging. I don't think they really had a nice chat, normally that captains do or the players do when they meet at events like this. I didn't see that."

"I saw videos of it as well, and I have heard about the reactions from people on social media, and I'm quite surprised, actually, at what else you were expecting to do. I mean you are meeting a player that you are going to play and captain of the opposition team in a few days' time."

The Indian squad traveled separately to the United Arab Emirates in the first week of September. They have been training at the ICC Academy in Dubai. India are set to face Pakistan in their Group A encounter on September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium.

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