Bengaluru: SMH Kirmani has not minced words in holding India accountable for what he sees as a moral slide in modern cricket, accusing the team of letting politics seep into a sport that once stood for gentlemanship and fair play.
“The Indian team, and by extension cricket globally, is under siege,” Kirmani said. “Rude gestures, arrogance, and lack of respect have replaced the simple, noble etiquette of the field. This is not just about the Asia Cup, which India won, it is part of a wider, alarming trend. I receive messages from the USA, UK, UAE, asking: ‘What has happened to the Indian team? Why is there so much politics on the field?’ It shames me to hear such words from friends abroad.”
Kirmani made it clear that politics has no place in cricket. “What happens off the field—whether personal ambition or even noble causes like flood relief—must never be dragged onto the pitch.
Cricket is not a platform for political point-scoring. This should be a conviction for every player, every team, and every cricket board.”
He drew a stark contrast with his era. “In our time, cricket was more than a game; it was an expression of respect and camaraderie. Pakistani players would visit India; we would go to Pakistan. We asked about families, exchanged pleasantries, and shared warmth. That world is gone. Where has it gone?”
The messages he receives today reflect global disgust. “I could show them, but I won’t. What has happened at the Asia Cup, what has become of cricket today—it is deeply depressing—for me and for countless cricket lovers who cherished the sport for its dignity.”
Asked how he reacts, Kirmani offered a personal yet principled response: “I bow my head as a cricketer, a member of the cricketing fraternity. Politics must remain outside the field. Respect, gentlemanship, camaraderie—these must remain within it. Otherwise, the soul of cricket, already under threat, will vanish entirely.”
