Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf 'disrespect' India's national anthem at Asia Cup Final

NEW DELHI: Another tempest brewed astatine the Asia Cup 2025 last betwixt India and Pakistan connected Sunday astatine the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, arsenic Pakistan pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf recovered themselves astatine the centre of a caller controversy.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Moments earlier the blockbuster clash got underway, some teams lined up for the national anthems. Pakistan’s anthem played first, followed by India’s. While players from some sides stood successful attraction arsenic per protocol, cameras captured Shaheen and Haris casually chatting during India’s nationalist anthem — a motion that rapidly went viral and was wide slammed arsenic “disrespectful.”Live Score: India vs Pakistan Asia Cup FinalThe incidental has lone fuelled tensions successful what was already a high-voltage acme clash.

It came connected the heels of different flashpoint: India skipper Suryakumar Yadav sticking to the “No Handshake” argumentation against Pakistan. At the toss, Suryakumar shook hands with broadcaster Ravi Shastri but pointedly ignored erstwhile Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis. Just similar successful the radical signifier and Super Four encounters earlier successful the tournament, helium besides skipped the customary handshake with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha.

Adding further intrigue, the flip itself was conducted successful an antithetic manner, with Shastri interviewing the Indian skipper and Waqar handling Pakistan’s person — a uncommon statement successful satellite cricket.For India, the evening besides began with a monolithic setback arsenic skipper Suryakumar confirmed astatine the flip that prima all-rounder Hardik Pandya was ruled retired owed to a niggle. The lack of Pandya, who has a proven grounds successful large matches against Pakistan, leaves a important void successful India’s line-up.With controversies implicit handshakes, anthem etiquette, and squad enactment overshadowing the pre-match proceedings, the signifier was acceptable for an emotionally charged finale.