I put my head down as a cricketer: Kirmani decries mixing of politics in India-Pakistan matches

World Cup winner Syed Kirmani said he puts his head down as a cricketer because of the involvement of politics in the game. The former India cricketer was referring to the recent India-Pakistan matches in the Asia Cup that were full of hostility.

Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts during all three encounters in the T20 event, including in the final. Suryakumar Yadav-led India also held back from collecting the winners' trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is a minister in Pakistan.

"The way cricket is being played all around, there has been no gentleman-ness in the game," Kirmani told news agency ANI. "There have been very rude, arrogant gestures on the field. I'm getting messages from all over. The Indian team has done what? What politics is going on in the field? I'm ashamed to listen to the comments.

"What's happened to the current era of cricketers? What has happened at the Asia Cup is disgusting. These are the words that have come onto my messages," Kirmani said.

The former wicketkeeper who won the 1983 World Cup with India said it was not right to mix politics with cricket. "It is very depressing to me the way things are going on in the sporting field, particularly in cricket. It is not the right thing that has happened. Politics should not enter sports in general. Leave politics behind. Whatever has transpired away from the sporting field, leave it there itself."

"In our time, cricketers had such wonderful camaraderie. Pakistani players coming to India, we're going to Pakistan. What hospitality, what love, what affection. I have to put my head down as a cricketer," Kirmani said.