West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder said the visuals of India not accepting the Asia Cup 2025 trophy following their win over Pakistan in Dubai last September, did not bode well in the sporting arena.
The former Windies captain belongs to a rare group of cricketers who have continuously featured in the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League over the years, maintaining warm relationships with both nations.
Relations between India and Pakistan, already historically fraught, reached a new low following the Pahalgam attacks in April 2025. Although bilateral cricket has been suspended since 2012, the two nations consistently lock horns in ICC tournaments.
However, post the Pahalgam tragedy in May 2025, India adopted a stricter diplomatic line even in the sporting realm, casting doubt on whether the scheduled Asia Cup matches would proceed. While all three encounters during the tournament in the United Arab Emirates eventually took place, the Indian team notably refused to interact or exchange traditional post-match handshakes with the Pakistani players.
Not accepting Asia Cup trophy was too much’
“I don’t like this India-Pakistan beef that goes or stems a long way beyond the cricket field. It is really sad,” said Holder in a chat with Grace Hayden on her show ‘Game On with Grace’.
Jason Holder on the India & Pakistan conflict pic.twitter.com/Gq3Ko4eS9k
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“They are two powerhouses in world cricket and to see how things have transpired; I saw India win the Asia Cup and they didn’t go to accept the trophy. I think it’s too much. These things shouldn’t be in our game, especially if we are ambassadors of the world. We’re talking of world peace, making the world a better place, then that’s not what you want.”
Holder said the move for a change needed to come from the top, urging both Asian giants to unite.
“I think if it has to change, it has to come from people who are influential. They are both influential teams on the cricket field. Yes, a lot maybe happening off the field but on the field, India and Pakistan can maybe join forces in the sport. That would huge for the context of everything.”
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“If they can do it on the cricket field, the two countries may be like ‘Look, it’s done on a sporting level, maybe we can do it on an everyday level. Stop this fight, stop this war.’”
The arch-rivals are next slated to meet in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in Colombo on February 15.
