Sports Desk - The Indian Sports Ministry has confirmed that the Indian cricket team will participate in the Asia Cup next month, as it is a multi-nation tournament. However, the ministry has ruled out the possibility of any bilateral cricket series with Pakistan.
According to a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI), the ministry introduced a new and “unprecedented” policy regarding India’s international sports engagements, with a special focus on Pakistan.
New Policy on India-Pakistan Sports Relations
A senior official explained that under the new policy, Indian athletes will not travel to Pakistan for bilateral events, and Pakistani athletes will also not be invited to India for the same purpose. However, participation in multi-nation tournaments involving Pakistan will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis before making a decision.
Political Tensions Impacting Cricket
India has not allowed its cricket team to travel to Pakistan for a bilateral series for over a decade due to political tensions between the two countries. The last bilateral series between the arch-rivals took place in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India.
India last visited Pakistan in 2008 to play in the Asia Cup but has avoided bilateral tours since then. Despite this, Pakistan has successfully hosted several top international teams in recent years after security conditions improved following the 2009 Lahore attack on the Sri Lankan team bus.
Asia Cup 2025 Schedule
The upcoming Asia Cup will be hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is scheduled to start on September 9 with a curtain-raiser match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
- India vs Pakistan: September 14
- Pakistan vs Oman: September 12
- Pakistan vs UAE: September 17
This edition of the tournament will follow the T20 format, making it a key preparation event for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Potential Multiple India-Pakistan Matches
Depending on the results, India and Pakistan could face each other again in the Super Four stage and possibly in the final. This means fans might get to watch up to three India-Pakistan clashes during the tournament.
Related Stories You Might Like:
- Shaheens Outplay Bangladesh ‘A’ with 79-Run Victory in Top End T20 Opener
- Karachi Electric Buses Project - 1,000 Electric Buses Coming to Karachi
Enjoyed this article? Share your feedback!
