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Rashid Khan Separates SKY And Salman; Fans Speculate Tension After Asia Cup Photoshoot

Soumyajit Dutta

Captains posing with the trophy [Source: @pizzewala3339/X.com]Captains posing with the trophy [Source: @pizzewala3339/X.com]

The big day is here. The Asia Cup 2025 is set to kick off on September 9 at 8:00 PM IST, with the tournament opener having Afghanistan and Hong Kong play the inaugural clash. Ahead of the match, captains from all 8 teams did the mandatory photo session with the trophy at Dubai International Stadium.

What caught the eye was the distance between India and Pakistan here, again after avoiding each other during the net sessions as they practised without any interaction. Here also, a prominent distance was noticed between Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salm Ali Agha.

Rashid Khan 'The Peacemaker' Between Two Captains?

Afghanistan's ace all-rounder and skipper Rashid Khan had the honour to stand between SKY and Salman to maintain the rift between the two nations on account of the Pahalgam terror attack protest, the World Championship of Legends protest and the India-Pakistan boycott upheaval on social media ahead of the Asia Cup.

The picture featured the captains lifting their right arms enclosed as a fist, symbolising confidence to face the challenge. As Suryakumar Yadav sported a pair of black aviators and a smile on his face, Salman was strong and stern-faced as Rashid Khan acted as a barrier between the two.

Nevertheless, other captains like Litton Das, Muhammad Waseem, and Charith Asalanka were also seen in the picture alongside captains of Hong Kong and Oman. Now, with the fiery subcontinental tournament ready to gain momentum, from the captains posing ahead of the trophy, it is clear that the India vs Pakistan distance is maintained and a strong clash is expected on the field on the eve of September 14.

As for the tournament's format, the Asia Cup will feature group stage fixtures, and then the top four teams on the points table will move to the Super Four stage, from which the finalists will be selected. The final match will be played on September 28. For India, opponents will be Pakistan, Oman and the UAE for the group stage fixtures.