India’s Ministry of Sports on Thursday formally announced a sweeping new policy that rules out any bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan, even at neutral venues. However, India’s cricket team will still participate in the upcoming Asia Cup, as it falls under a multilateral framework, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
For decades, political tensions between the two South Asian rivals have overshadowed sporting exchanges, with major tournaments frequently hanging in the balance. In recent years, teams from both sides have often refused to cross borders, opting instead for neutral venues under a hybrid arrangement.
Last month, Pakistan’s Sports Board (PSB) directed all national federations to seek prior clearance before competing in events hosted in India, citing “security concerns.”
According to PTI, the newly crafted Indian policy prohibits Indian athletes from traveling to Pakistan and likewise prevents Pakistani players from competing in India for bilateral contests. The decision takes effect immediately.
When asked about Indian participation in multilateral tournaments hosted in Pakistan, a ministry source explained that such cases would be “examined individually before a final decision.”
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the highly anticipated Pakistan–India clash in the T20 Asia Cup will be staged in Dubai on September 14. Meanwhile, in July, a scheduled cricket fixture between the two nations was scrapped after Indian players refused to take the field against Pakistan, citing ongoing “geopolitical frictions.”