DUBAI: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha on Saturday urged his team to rise to the occasion as they prepare to face India in the historic final of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday. Embracing the weight of expectation, he declared his squad “ready for the pressure” of cricket’s most charged rivalry.
Pakistan sealed their place in the title clash after edging Bangladesh by 11 runs in a Super Fours encounter on September 25. It will be the first time in the tournament’s history that Pakistan and India meet in the final. The Men in Green, champions in 2016, marched into the decider after defeating every opponent except India, who beat them twice earlier in the competition.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Agha admitted that both sides would feel equal pressure. “The amount of pressure on both teams will be the same. We will try to give our best and win the final,” he said, dismissing Indian media narratives surrounding the rivalry.
Reflecting on the defeats to India, the skipper acknowledged that mistakes had cost his side dearly. “We have not won games because we made more mistakes. Whichever team makes fewer mistakes will win the game,” he noted, expressing faith that Pakistan’s struggling batting order could recover in the final.
Asked about skipping the traditional pre-final trophy photo, Agha said Pakistan would respect the protocol regardless of India’s choice. On personal form, he admitted his strike rate was below par but emphasized the importance of adapting to match situations.
Agha also backed his teammates’ right to show aggression, as long as respect was maintained. “If somebody wants to be aggressive, then why not. There is nothing left if you take away a fast bowler’s aggression,” he said, stressing that players understood the need to balance emotion with discipline.
On the recent “no-handshake” controversy, the captain called it damaging for the sport. “I have never seen or heard something like that. Tensions have flared in previous India-Pakistan games, but there was always a handshake. No handshake is bad for cricket,” he concluded.
