The Asia Cup 2025 final between India and Pakistan has brought a fresh twist even before the first ball is bowled. In a rare move, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) arranged for separate presenters to interview the two captains at the toss. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav spoke to Ravi Shastri, while Waqar Younis interviewed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha.

This unusual arrangement stemmed from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to the ACC, asking for a neutral setup for the marquee clash. The decision reflects the high-stakes intensity and the sensitive backdrop of the India vs Pakistan rivalry, which has always carried more than just cricketing significance.

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The rivalry has seen its share of controversies, but this was a first in tournament history. Earlier, during a Super Four clash, a storm erupted when the Indian skipper was accused of snubbing the customary handshake at the toss. To avoid a repeat of such tension, the ACC acted swiftly to ensure smooth conduct during the final.

Some Interesting development: At the toss, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav will speak to Ravi Shastri and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha will speak to Waqar Younis. #INDvPAK

— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) September 28, 2025

Ravi Shastri and Waqar Younis will conduct toss interviews with the India and Pakistan captains after PCB’s request to Asian Cricket Council to keep a neutral presenter for Asia Cup final #INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/g2o5EBGtgV

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 28, 2025

According to a PTI report, both Shastri and Waqar will handle pre-match toss interviews separately, ensuring balance and neutrality. As anticipation builds for the ultimate showdown, this small yet significant development adds another layer to the drama of #INDvsPAK.

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Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy