In the pre-match press conference ahead of the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan happening today at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Team India wasn’t present for the final photoshoot with Pakistan.
The absence of Suryakumar Yadav and the team was due to skipping training and resting before the match. After Team India won the match against Sri Lanka in the Super Four stage, coach Morne Morkel declared that the team would be resting for physical recovery and not having any training.
Rest before the final match
As per the coach’s decision, players underwent ice baths and other exercises to ease their muscles. Morkel said, “The key for the boys is rest. They’re already in ice baths, and recovery began immediately after the match. The best way to recover is to sleep and stay off your feet. Individual pool sessions and massages are planned to get them mentally ready for Sunday’s big battle. It’s a quick turnaround, so playing smart will be crucial. There will be no formal training.”
So, as the team wasn’t doing a training session, Suryakumar decided to miss the customary pre-match press conference.
What is Pakistan’s take on this?
When Salman was asked about the Indian team missing the customary pre-final photoshoot, he said, “It is completely his call, whether he wants to come or not. I can’t do anything about that.”
Talking about the chances to win, he said, “We will win. Our attempt is to play our best cricket. And we know that if we play our best cricket and execute our plans for 40 overs, then we can beat any team.”
Real pressure situation for both India & Pakistan
“There is a lot of pressure in today’s match and this is the reality,” said Salman. He even said that this being the title-decider match, the responsibility and pressure have doubled, “If someone says otherwise, it would be a plain lie.”
Both teams have performed well in the tournament, but India has defeated Pakistan twice earlier, first in the group stage, and then in the Super 4s.
Salman said, “There is a lot of pressure on Pakistan and India, and if we say that there is no pressure, then it is wrong. But yes, we have made more mistakes than they have, and that is why we have not won matches. I think in the match between Pakistan and India, the team with fewer mistakes will win the game.”