No bilateral matches with Pakistan: India issues new sports policy | More sports News
New Delhi: India on Thursday ceased all bilateral sporting engagements, including cricket, with Pakistan on home and away soil, as well as at neutral venues. The decision followed the announcement of a Pakistan-specific sports policy amid escalating social media outrage and opposition’s objections over the two neighbouring nations contesting the upcoming Asia Cup T20I matches in the UAE. Under the policy issued by the sports ministry, India will not engage in any bilateral sports with Pakistan anywhere in the world but will continue to compete against its arch-rival in multilateral sports events internationally, adhering to the Olympic Charter and the statutes of the respective International Federations (IFs). The policy stipulates that Indian teams across disciplines will not play in Pakistan, and Pakistan contingents cannot compete in India for one-on-one events. “The Indian govt had an unwritten rule for cricketing engagements with Pakistan that there won’t be any bilateral between the two sides. This rule has now been given a formal shape and covers all sports disciplines. The govt is very clear in its stand: ‘We must beat Pakistan on the border and on the cricket field’. India and Pakistan cannot play a bilateral event even if it is planned in America. For multilateral events, we will not come in the way unless the host is Pakistan. In that scenario, we will examine the case before deciding anything,” ministry sources said. The sources emphasised the urgent need to define bilateral ties and multilateral engagements due to recurring questions over whether India would travel for tournaments involving Pakistan, even at neutral venues, or host matches featuring its arch-rival. The policy means the Indian cricket team, as expected, can go on to face Pakistan in the men’s Asia Cup next month. The arrival of the Pakistan team in India for the women’s ODI World Cup in October is also on, since both are multilateral events.
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Addressing whether Indian teams will be permitted to travel to Pakistan for multilateral competitions, sources said, “Even in multilateral events, we can’t leave our athletes in lurch. After all, Pakistan is a country that has no hesitation in declaring that it is a dumpster and can hit the shining Mercedes that is India.” Sources also referenced clause 35 (2) of the National Sports Governance Act 2025, which states: “The central govt may, by an order, impose reasonable restrictions on the participation of any national team of a concerned sport in international sports competitions or participation of any individual in the activities of the national sports, under extraordinary circumstances and in the interest of national security, public order and safety.” According to the policy document, India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan mirrors its overall strategy in dealing with the country. “In so far as bilateral sports events in each other’s country are concerned, Indian teams will not be participating in competitions in Pakistan. Nor will we permit Pakistani teams to play in India. With regard to international and multilateral events, in India or abroad, we are guided by the practices of international sports bodies and the interest of our own sportspersons,” the policy read. “Accordingly, Indian teams and individual players will take part in international events that also have teams or players from Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistani players and teams will be able to participate in such multilateral events hosted by India,” it added. Recently, the Indian govt granted visas to the Pakistan men’s hockey team to visit the country for the Asia Cup. However, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) refused to send the team, citing security reasons. The govt has also assured visas for the FIH Junior men’s hockey World Cup in Chennai and Madurai later this year, but the PHF is unlikely to sanction the trip.
