DUBAI: Former South African cricket captain AB de Villiers has roundly condemned India for what he called the mixing of politics with cricket while the Asia Cup tournament was ongoing, insisting on a clear distinction between regional politics and the essence of the game.
In the release that opened debate worldwide in the cricket world, De Villiers had this to say,
“Politics should be excluded from the game. Cricket is worth celebrating on its own merit. What went down during the Asia Cup closing ceremony was disappointing to see.”
The great batsman seemed to be talking about India’s attitude at the award giving ceremony, intimation that the Indian side did not seem satisfied with the trophy or the situation in which it was being given.
“Maybe they were not satisfied with the trophy or how it was being given, but I don’t think it has anything to do with cricket. It’s unfortunate,” he added.
De Villiers also voiced his disappointment with the developments, stating that they had badly affected the game and the concerned players.
“Seeing politics creep into sport is something I despise. It puts players in awkward situations and detracts from the beauty of the game. In the end, it just didn’t feel right.”
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He ended with optimism that the upcoming tournaments would be devoid of political undertones, enabling cricket to continue to serve as a unifying force for the region.
