Before a ball was ever bowled in the Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, there was a dispute. During India’s national anthem, Pakistan’s top fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were seen on camera chatting casually. Many social media users deemed this to be insulting.
Prior to the match, both teams stood for the national anthems, as is customary. Fans instantly reacted negatively to the gesture, which was extensively broadcast on television and captured on social media.
Shaheen and Rauf were observed conversing when India’s hymn was played, but Indian players stood motionless and dutifully listened to Pakistan’s anthem first.
Afridi, Haris Rauf ‘disrespect’ India’s national anthem at Asia Cup Final https://t.co/NoHSTCyqiH pic.twitter.com/LtvKYGUpKz
— Gags (@CatchOfThe40986) September 28, 2025
This was not the tournament’s first controversy involving participants from Pakistan. Rauf’s obscene gestures towards Indian fans and Sahibzada Farhan’s gunfire-style celebration earlier in the two teams’ Super Four match had prompted the BCCI to register objections. The ICC even penalised Rauf for his actions.
For the third consecutive occasion, including in the final, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has made news by eschewing the traditional handshake gestures with rival captain Salman Agha against Pakistan.
Sahibzada Farhan’s fifty helped Pakistan get off to a good start in the match, reaching 113/1. But after Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets in the last overs, they fell apart and Pakistan was bowled out for less than 150.
Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar, and Shubman Gill were all cheaply lost as India’s top order faltered in the chase. However, Tilak Varma accepted the responsibility and steadied India’s innings with an undefeated 69 off 53 balls. Before concluding the chase in the last over, Tilak, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube kept India in the hunt. The Men in Blue won the Asia Cup for the ninth time thanks to a boundary from Rinku Singh, who faced his first ball of the competition.
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