Cricket legend Syed Kirmani, a World Cup-winning former India wicketkeeper, has voiced his profound disappointment over the diminishing spirit of sportsmanship in modern cricket. He admitted feeling “ashamed” after international friends characterized the recent Asia Cup 2025 as a spectacle marred more by political wrangling than genuine sporting competition.
Kirmani didn’t hold back, criticizing the provocative gestures displayed by Pakistani players during their high-stakes matches against India, and the retaliatory actions that ensued. He also openly deplored India’s controversial refusal to accept the championship trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief and Pakistani minister Mohsin Naqvi following their triumph in the Dubai final. He branded the entire incident as “disgusting” for the sport.
Team India celebrates after winning the Asia Cup. (AP Photo)
Reflecting on a bygone era, Kirmani recalled a time when India-Pakistan cricketing ties were defined by genuine camaraderie and mutual respect, transcending political tensions. “In our cricketing days, we shared such wonderful camaraderie,” he reminisced. “Pakistani players visiting India, and our team traveling to Pakistan – the hospitality, the love, the affection were immense. Families would meet at social gatherings, exchanging pleasantries. Where has all that gone now?”
“The entire landscape of the game, from our generation to this current era, feels utterly depressing to me,” he added, conveying a deep sense of loss. The Asia Cup final culminated in a truly bizarre scene: after winning, the Indian team declined to receive the trophy from Naqvi, who then conspicuously departed the ceremony with the silverware. Videos of officials carrying the trophy away quickly circulated, shocking fans globally.
Kirmani emphatically stated that politics should never infiltrate the realm of sports. “Politics must be kept separate from sports,” he urged. “Whatever political disagreements exist outside the sporting arena should remain there. Cricket, above all, should never be exploited for such purposes.”
While India ultimately claimed their ninth Asia Cup title, Kirmani concluded that the tournament would unfortunately be remembered less for its cricketing brilliance and more for the divisive controversies that overshadowed it.