Indian sports ministry gives green light for Pakistan-India contest in Asia Cup
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The Indian cricket team will be allowed to compete in next month’s Asia Cup as it is a multi-nation tournament, India’s Sports Ministry confirmed on Thursday. However, the ministry made it clear that bilateral matches with Pakistan will remain suspended.
According to PTI, the ministry introduced a new “unprecedented” policy outlining India’s international sporting engagements, with particular focus on Pakistan.
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The directive prohibits Indian athletes from travelling to Pakistan for bilateral events and bars Pakistani athletes from taking part in bilateral competitions in India. The policy takes immediate effect.
A senior ministry official explained that any participation in multi-nation tournaments hosted in Pakistan would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
For over a decade, the Indian government has not permitted its cricket team to play bilateral series in Pakistan due to political tensions.
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The two countries now only face each other in ICC and ACC tournaments. Their last bilateral series was in 2012–13, when Pakistan toured India. India last travelled to Pakistan in 2008 for the Asia Cup, and have not played a bilateral series across the border for 18 years.
The Asia Cup, set to begin on September 9 in the UAE, will follow the T20 format and act as a key build-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
India and Pakistan are scheduled to clash on September 14. Depending on results, they could also meet in the Super Four stage and possibly in the final, raising the prospect of up to three high-voltage encounters.
