Kiran More Recalls The Instance When India And Pakistan Cricketers Played Holi Together

Kiran More, former Indian wicket-keeper, recently recalled the instance when both Indian and Pakistani cricketers celebrated Holi together while being embroiled in a hotly contested encounter.

Pakistan Cricket team had traveled to India for a series of six ODIs and five Test matches in early 1987. The first four Tests of that series ended in a high-scoring draw and the caravan moves to Bengaluru for the series decider.

It was the time of the festival of colors Holi and according to Kiran More, both Pakistan and Indian cricketers celebrated the festival together, painting every corner of the hotel ‘red’.

“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,” Kiran 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,” Kiran More recalled.

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‘We were trying to get Imran Khan out of his room’- Kiran More

Kiran More also revealed how both Pakistani and Indian cricketers tried to get star all-rounder and the current Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan out of his room.

“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 colour on him.” Kiran More recalled.

“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 next day, we were playing a Test match again,” the former wicket-keeper 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.” he said.

Kiran More isn’t the only cricketer to spill beans on that momentous occasion. Earlier, legendary Pakistani cricketer, Javed Miandad had also reminisced on his Youtube channel how both sides celebrated Holi together.

“During the Bangalore Test, both the teams were staying in the same hotel. There was not much to do around there. In the evening, we all used to spend time together. It was around Holi season,” Miandad recalled.

“People started playing Holi in the hotel. I remember we even entered Imran Khan’s room and everyone was putting colors on each other. We did not even leave Indian cricketers. They, of course, had no problems,” he added.

Pakistan, however, had the last laugh as they went on to win the low-scoring thriller in Bangalore by 16 runs to take the series 1-0.

Also Read: When Javed Miandad Threw Ravi Shastri In The Swimming Pool While Playing Holi During The 1987 India-Pakistan Test