Tensions were palpable even before the first ball was bowled in the high-octane Asia Cup 2025 Group A encounter between India and Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. In a telling moment, India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha notably did not shake hands during the toss.

There was no eye contact, no customary handshake, just a brisk coin spin and formal announcements. The awkward exchange (or lack thereof) came amid heightened political strain between the two nations, particularly in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, where 26 civilians lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir.