When India and Pakistan cricketers tried to get Imran Khan to play Holi, but failed

India and Pakistan cricketers were in middle of a Test series in 1987 when they played Holi.

Kiran More | Twitter

Former India wicket-keeper Kiran More recollected the memories of a memorable Holi with Pakistan cricketers. It was the Pakistan tour of India in 1986-87 when an intense series saw good camaraderie between rivals off the field.

More said the players had painted the hotel red on the occasion of Holi. Every player from both sides was colored except Imran Khan, the Pakistan captain. 

“We were really fighting hard for that whole series, but in that Test match, I’ll never forget that Holi we played on the rest day, with the Indian team and the Pakistani team,” More said on The Greatest Rivalry Podcast.

“[It was] at Bangalore’s Westin hotel, I still remember. The whole hotel was painted red. The swimming pool, all the rooms, every corner of the hotel was painted red. And we had a great time. We [both] Pakistani cricketers and Indian cricketers, we were trying to get Imran Khan out of his room. He was the captain, and he was a shy character. We were trying to get into his room from both sides, and trying to put color on him.”

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More said Javed Miandad kept the energy high whole day and ensured the celebration doesn't stop. Interestingly, the player got back to playing cricket the next day and did the same level of sledging as before.

“He didn’t come out. Javed [Miandad] was instrumental in that Holi time, the whole day, we did Holi together, we had lunch together. Had bhangra music, there were a few friends of ours who joined that party. We had a great time, and the next day, we were playing a Test match again,” More added.

“On the field, both teams wanted to win, and sledging was huge that time from both sides. Off the field, it was a great time that we had. I’ll never forget that Holi.”

 
 

By - 06 Jul, 2020

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