India and Pakistan continue to share frosty relations both on and off the cricket field. The tension following the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025 also spilled over into cricket, with India refusing to accept the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and Pakistan minister Mohsin Naqvi. Amidst this, West Indies star all-rounder and former captain Jason Holder has voiced his dislike of the on-field tension and urged both nations to unite on the cricket pitch, potentially leading to broader change.

"Honestly, I don't like this whole India-Pakistan beef. The way in which it stems way beyond the cricket field is just sad," Holder said on the 'Game On with Grace Hayden' podcast.

"I saw India win the Asia Cup and didn't go up and accept the trophy, I think it's too much," he added.

The Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, led to military conflict between India and Pakistan, and tensions have continued in cricket. Suryakumar Yadav-led India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi in September, and the team still has not received the cup.

Holder, who was bought by Gujarat Titans (GT) for Rs 7 crore in the IPL 2026 auction, stressed that India and Pakistan should find a way to "come together."

"These things shouldn't be in our game, especially if we are ambassadors for the world. If we're talking about world peace and making the world a better place, that's not what you want to see from your idols and your inspirers. If you're trying to inspire a generation and a world then you have got to try and find a way to come together," he stated.

"I could understand it being a massive thing off the cricket field, and don't get me wrong, I get it, its long years of history behind it. But I think if it is to change, it can start from our influential players and teams on the cricket field. I think a way to quieten it and deaden it is by India and Pakistan joining forces in the sport. I think that would be huge for the context of everything. If they can do it on the field, then the two countries could probably say, 'Look, it's done on a sporting level, maybe we can do it on an everyday level, stop this fighting, stop this war between India and Pakistan'," Holder further said.

Holder also expressed frustration at the tension spilling over into global events like World Cups. "I think it's so hard to be in a World Cup, for example, and you have to shift games because you don't want India and Pakistan to play at this place, or India can't come to Pakistan when cricket is meant to be played in Pakistan. I think it's so wrong," he said.

India played all of their games at a neutral venue (UAE) during the Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy 2025. A similar arrangement is expected during the T20 World Cup 2026 hosted by India, with Pakistan set to play all games in Sri Lanka.