Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan Left Red-Faced After National Anthem Mix-Up Before Clash With India

Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, faced an awkward moment even before a ball was bowled in their high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 Group A clash against India. Tensions were already high between the two sides, and the toss set the tone for an emotionally charged encounter.

As captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha walked out for the toss at the Dubai International Stadium, both men noticeably avoided eye contact and skipped the customary handshake, reflecting the strained political and sporting ties between the two nations. But the real embarrassment came moments later during the national anthems.

As both teams lined up for their respective anthems, a major audio mishap caught everyone off guard. When it was time for Pakistan’s national anthem, the stadium DJ mistakenly played the hit song *Jalebi Baby* by Tesher and Jason Derulo. The catchy pop track blared through the speakers for about six seconds before the error was corrected and the actual anthem was played. The moment left Pakistan’s players visibly confused and social media buzzing with reactions.

Earlier, at the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Agha opted to bat first. “We are going to bat. We’ve been playing good cricket and are excited. The wicket looks a bit slow, and we want to put runs on the board,” he said. Pakistan went in with the same playing XI as in their previous match.

India, too, made no changes to their lineup. Captain Suryakumar Yadav welcomed the opportunity to bowl first. “We were looking to bowl anyway, so happy with this. It’s humid, and hopefully, we’ll get some dew later in the evening,” he said.

Before the toss, cameras captured Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir delivering an intense pep talk to his players, visibly fired up and rallying the team ahead of the high-voltage clash.

The political backdrop of the match added to the intensity. Several fans expressed anger over India playing Pakistan so soon after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this year, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists.

Despite reports of unsold tickets ahead of the fixture, the stadium was buzzing with energy. Indian fans far outnumbered their Pakistani counterparts, turning Dubai into a sea of blue as the much-anticipated clash got underway.