NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram expressed his frustration over the strained relations between India and Pakistan, which have hit an all-time low following the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year.

The tension spilled onto the cricket field during the Asia Cup, when Indian players refused to exchange handshakes with their Pakistan counterparts. Matters were made worse by the conduct of ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the PCB, as he walked away with the Asia Cup trophy after the Indian players declined to accept the silverware from him.

The Asia Cup trophy still lies locked in the Asian Cricket Council headquarter in Dubai despite the final being held back in late September.

Akram has called on the ICC to step in and address the growing tension between India and Pakistan in cricket. The legendary left-arm pacer sent a strong message urging the International Cricket Council to "keep politics away from sports," a move he believes could finally put an end to years of animosity between the two nations on the cricket field.

Akram also revisited the long-standing debate about player participation in T20 leagues, advocating for Pakistani cricketers to be allowed in the IPL and Indian players in Pakistan's domestic competitions.

"I'm sorry. What I don't like in cricket is politics. Straightforward. Sports should be kept away from politics. In league cricket, pick every player from every nation. Be brave. Be bigger. But that's not happening, unfortunately. And I think that's where the ICC comes in. That's where cricket boards come in. It doesn't matter who owns the league. It doesn't matter who owns the teams. Every player from every nation should be picked," Akram said in an interview with Wisden Cricket.