KEY POINTS
- Tensions stem from Asia Cup incidents, including India refusing to accept trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi and avoiding handshakes.
- Former West Indies captain Jason Holder called the situation “sad” and urged cricketers to set better example for fans.
LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan’s ODI captain and pace spearhead, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has issued a direct challenge to arch-rivals India ahead of their scheduled showdown at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The highly anticipated fixture is set for February 15 in Colombo, with on-field action now shadowed by a growing controversy over conduct.
“People across the border have violated the spirit of sportsmanship,” Shaheen stated during a media interaction, referencing recent tense encounters. “Our job is to play cricket, and that remains our focus. We will try to respond on the field.”
Asia Cup fallout ignites tensions in cricket
The captain’s comments stem from a series of incidents during the recent ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025.
The final, which India won, was notably marred by reports that the Indian team refused to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
This followed earlier group-stage and Super Four matches where traditional post-match handshakes were allegedly avoided.
The discord has spilled beyond the men’s game, with similar reports emerging from a Women’s World Cup encounter and the Hong Kong Super Sixes, both ACC events, and extending to India’s boycott of Pakistan fixtures in the recent World Championship of Legends.
Holder laments ‘sad’ state of affairs
Earlier, adding an influential external voice to the debate, former West Indies captain Jason Holder expressed profound disappointment with the escalating tensions.
In an interview with an Indian sports platform, Holder labelled the situation ‘sad’ and specifically criticised the trophy ceremony snub.
“I saw India win the Asia Cup and they didn’t go on stage to accept the trophy. I think it’s too much, these things should not be in our game,” Holder said.
Focus shifts to Colombo
With the next India-Pakistan clash now on the horizon for the 2026 T20 World Cup, the sporting rivalry is under unprecedented scrutiny.
Shaheen Afridi’s promise of a sporting “response on the field” sets the stage for a contest loaded with competitive and diplomatic significance.
As Holder pleaded, the cricketing world watches to see if the players can bridge a divide that recent events have widened, or if the pressure of the rivalry will further eclipse the traditional spirit of the game.
