India rules out bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan, but Asia Cup clash to go ahead

NEW DELHI (News Desk) – India’s sports ministry has announced a sweeping new policy that rules out all bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan, even at neutral venues.

However, the Indian cricket team will still take part in next month’s Asia Cup 2025 as it is a multilateral event, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Thursday.

The ministry said the policy, effective immediately, reflects New Delhi’s overall stance toward Islamabad. It bars Indian athletes from traveling to Pakistan for bilateral competitions and vice versa. A ministry source noted that participation in multilateral events involving Pakistan would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

“For international and multilateral events, whether in India or abroad, we will follow the practices of international sports bodies and prioritize the interests of our athletes,” the policy stated.

It added that Pakistan’s teams would be allowed to compete in multilateral tournaments hosted in India.

Political tensions between the two neighbors have repeatedly cast a shadow over sporting ties, particularly cricket. Bilateral series have been frozen for years, with both countries opting for neutral venues under hybrid models.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the much-anticipated India-Pakistan T20 Asia Cup clash will be played in Dubai on September 14. However, in July, a scheduled cricket fixture between the two sides was called off after Indian players refused to participate, citing “geopolitical tensions.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Sports Board has already instructed its federations to seek clearance before taking part in events hosted in India, citing security concerns.
The latest policy underlines how political disputes continue to spill over into sports, depriving millions of fans of one of the world’s greatest rivalries.