No handshake again as India bowl against Pakistan in Asia Cup final

Dubai: India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field first against Pakistan as the two teams stuck to no handshakes and cold vibes in the Asia Cup final on Sunday.

The two neighbours come into the title clash with tensions high from their previous two clashes in the competition, which witnessed political posturing and aggressive on-field behaviour at the same venue in Dubai.

Defending champions India and Pakistan are playing a final in the Asia Cup for the first time in the tournament's 41-year-old history.

India, who remain unbeaten in six matches of the Asia Cup, made three changes to the team from their previous win with all-rounder Hardik Pandya to sit out with injury.

Jasprit Bumrah, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh make the team in place of Pandya, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh.

Pakistan captain Salman Agha said he would have batted first anyway had he won the toss as his team come in unchanged from their previous win over Bangladesh.

India comfortably won both their games in the tournament.

In the group match, Suryakumar had refused to shake hands with Pakistan's Agha and the two teams kept up the stance in the previous match.

India won the previous edition played in the 50-over format.

The Asia Cup is being widely seen as a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February-March.