Jason Holder, a former captain of the West Indies, expressed his disappointment at how political tensions between India and Pakistan affected cricket at the Asia Cup last year.
Months after the Pahalgam terror tragedy damaged their relationship, the bitter adversaries competed against one another three times. Following each interaction with their Pakistani counterparts, the Indian players made the decision to not shake hands.
Citing the current political climate, the Indian team also declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Asian Cricket Council.
The whole India-Pakistan dispute bothers me, to be honest. Jason Holder told Cricbuzz, “It’s just sad to see how it extends well beyond the cricket pitch, as these are two global cricket powerhouses.”
“It seems pointless at times like that. “Especially when we talk about being ambassadors to the world, these things shouldn’t be in our game,” he continued.
Jason Holder, who will play for the Gujarat Titans in the 2026 Indian Premier League, proposed that cricket may help India and Pakistan resolve their tense ties.
“We must figure out how to unite if you want to inspire a generation and the entire planet. I am aware of how intense this rivalry is off the pitch. However, the cricket pitch is a good place to start if change is to occur. Bringing India and Pakistan closer via sports is one method to defuse the situation. If it’s feasible in sports, it might be feasible in daily life as well. “It would be enormous to put an end to the fighting and tension,” Holder said.
People are influenced when they witness their heroes acting in a particular manner: Jason Holder
According to Jason Holder, cricket players are heroes to their supporters, and their actions on the pitch have a significant impact on how people think.
The trickle-down effect is constant. People are influenced when they witness their heroes acting in a particular manner. It’s depressing to watch this unfold because of this. These are stunning nations with amazing people and traditions. Moments like this hurt all cricket fans because of this. We discuss unity and game expansion. Thus, let’s put our words into practice by uniting cricket players and fostering more wholesome bonds’, Jason Holder said.
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