NEW DELHI: Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi avoided directly responding to Suryakumar Yadav's comment that Indo-Pak matches should no longer be seen as a rivalry due to India's dominance, emphasising instead that Pakistan's focus remains on winning the Asia Cup.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of their crucial final Super 4 clash against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday, Afridi chose to sidestep questions on Suryakumar's remarks.

"That's his view, let him say. When we meet (in the likely Asia Cup final on Sunday), we will see kya hai, kya nahi. Tab dekh lenge. We are here to win the Asia Cup and we will give our best effort for that," Afridi said.

Suryakumar had remarked that for a rivalry to be truly competitive, the gap in results cannot be as wide as 12-3 - the current India-Pakistan T20I head-to-head record.

The two sides have already met twice in the ongoing tournament, with India securing convincing wins on both occasions.

Tensions, however, remain high after the Indian team chose not to participate in the customary pre- and post-match handshakes, as a mark of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

The games have been overshadowed by aggressive behaviour from Pakistani players toward both fans and opponents. Afridi was questioned on whether players like Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan had deliberately planned such displays of aggression.

Rauf appeared to mock Indian supporters, while Farhan sparked controversy with his provocative gun-firing celebration during Sunday’s Super 4 clash.

"There is no specific plan to be aggressive, we have always been aggressive, from the time we started playing. This is how cricket is played and the team morale is kept high," he said.

Asked if the team is even discussing the possible Indo-Pak match-up in the final, he said, "We are not in the final yet, when we reach, we will think about it."

When quizzed about "what's been going on" between the two teams, Afridi first responded with a cheeky, "Kya chal raha hai?"

On being specifically asked about Rauf and Farhan, Afridi once again steered clear of the issue.

"Our job is to play cricket, people can think what they want. We are here to win Asia Cup. We are trying our best to fulfil Pakistan's hopes," he said.

On to cricketing matters and the heavy weather that Pakistan made of a chase of 133 against Sri Lanka last night in Abu Dhabi, Afridi said the nature of the format is such that it is difficult for all players to click at once.

"Credit to Hussain (Talat) and (Mohammad) Nawaz for handling pressure. T20 is like this only, everyone doesn't perform at the same time," he shrugged.

On his own form both with the bat and ball and whether the team's fast bowlers have under-performed so far, Afridi said, "My job is to fulfil the role assigned to me whether it is batting or bowling. Doesn't matter if I am injured or unwell. My job is to keep team morale high and perform well."

"It's not that we are not winning, we have won but we haven't won against bigger teams. I don't think our fast bowlers are struggling. T20 format is such that batsmen find it easier to hit on good wickets.

"But we should have more variation in our bowling and we are striving for that."

Against Bangladesh on Thursday, Afridi said the plan is to go on the offence from the word go.

"Bangladesh is a good team and has played good cricket of late. We have to punch first against them, we have to play good cricket," he said.

(With PTI Inputs)