 "'I don’t know what rivalry you guys are talking about': Suryakumar Yadav snubs Pakistan at pre-match press conference")
Ahead of one of the most-awaited matches of the Asia Cup 2025, India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav faced a flood of questions from reporters about Pakistan. The pre-match press briefing came just before India’s clash against their arch rivals, following the controversy from the group stage where Indian players didn't shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts as a sign of protest against the Pahalgam terror attack.
SKY snubs Pakistan again
Suryakumar Yadav was asked a few questions on the upcoming clash, but the Indian captain played it smart and didn’t take Pakistan’s name even once in his statements. When asked about the famous India-Pakistan rivalry, he said, “I don’t know what rivalry you guys are talking about. I just see the packed crowd and tell my team that it’s time to entertain them. If so many people show up, it’s our job to give them good cricket.”
Once again suryakumar Yadav own Pakistan in press conference.😭🔥
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) September 20, 2025
"I don’t know what rivalry you’re talking about. For me, once I step onto the ground and see it full, I just tell my players it’s time to entertain everyone. We just focus on playing good cricket. We’ve played… pic.twitter.com/MCSC7hjCWC
He was also questioned about their win over Pakistan in the previous game, and the possible advantage in the next match. SKY replied, “It doesn’t give us an edge that we have played them once and had a good game. We will have to start well from scratch,” he said.
Yadav also shared a piece of advice for his teammates ahead of the big clash. “Close your room, switch off your phone and sleep… I’m not saying shut the noise completely, but take what is good for you.”
Meanwhile, the Pakistan team once again skipped the pre-match press conference. This is the second time they have done so in the Asia Cup 2025. They had canceled their press briefing before the UAE game over the handshake controversy and had even threatened to boycott the match if their demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from their games was not met.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) didn’t listen to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team was eventually forced to play the match with Pycroft officiating. The ICC has once again appointed Pycroft as match referee for the India vs Pakistan match in the Super 4s of Asia Cup 2025.
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