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West Indies’ veteran all-rounder and Gujarat Titans’ (GT) star overseas pick, Jason Holder has urged for a stop to animosity in India-Pakistan clashes ahead of T20 World Cup 2026. Holder said that he didn’t like when India won the T20 Asia Cup 2025 final and did not go on the stage to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi who is also a Federal Minister in his country.
“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 conversation with Grace Hayden on her show ‘Game On with Grace’.
“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.”
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Holder wants ‘influential’ people to take a stand and stop the war on the field. He wants cricket to be used as a bridge.
“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,” Holder said.
“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.'”
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No handshake policy to continue in T20 World Cup 2026 too?
India and Pakistan will go up against each other in the T20 World Cup 2026 clash on February 15 in Colombo's R.Premadasa Stadium. In the T20 Asia Cup 2025, skipper Suryakumar Yadav opted for a no handshake policy, honouring the victims of terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. After beating Pakistan three times in a row in the tournament, the Indian team refused to receive the trophy from Naqvi. Several months on, India are yet to receive the T20 Asia Cup 2025 trophy as Naqvi ran away with it.
Holder set for IPL comeback
Holder has been on tours of Pakistan. In the previous edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL), he represented Islamabad United. In IPL 2026 mini-auction, the 34-year-old was picked for Rs 7 crore by Titans. GT and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) engaged in a bidding war to acquire his services.
Earlier, he has represented Rajasthan Royals (RR), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and CSK as well.
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