India will not engage in bilateral cricket matches with Pakistan, but is cleared to play against them in multilateral events like the Asia Cup. This stance was recently reiterated by Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya. The Sports Ministry has confirmed that India will participate in the upcoming Asia Cup, with a match against Pakistan scheduled for September 14 in Dubai.
Mandaviya clarified that while bilateral sports exchanges with Pakistan remain suspended, India has no objection to competing against them in international tournaments, whether held abroad or in India. He emphasized that the timely issuance of visas is a foundational rule under the Sports Bill, and India aims to establish itself as a global sporting hub with world-class facilities, encouraging other nations to host tournaments in the country.
The Sports Ministry issued a statement reaffirming that Indian teams will not participate in competitions in Pakistan, nor will Pakistani teams be allowed to play in India for bilateral events. However, regarding international and multilateral events, the ministry stated that they are guided by the practices of international sports bodies and the interest of Indian sportspersons. This position reflects India's overall policy in dealing with Pakistan.
The decision to allow the cricket match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup has stirred debate, with some questioning the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) stance on national interest. Aaditya Thackeray, a leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), penned a letter to Minister Mandaviya, raising concerns about the planned match and questioning whether the BCCI prioritizes financial gains over the sacrifices of soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks. He argued that India has consistently highlighted Pakistan's role in terrorist attacks and questioned the message sent by allowing the cricket match to proceed.
Despite these concerns, the Sports Ministry has maintained its stance, allowing the Asia Cup match to go forward. This decision is partly due to an agreement between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which stipulates that the teams will not play against each other on their respective home soils until at least 2029. Consequently, India will play Pakistan's men's team in the UAE and the women's team in Sri Lanka, even though India is the official host of both the Asia Cup and the Women's ODI World Cup.
The Asia Cup 2025, which will follow the T20 format, is scheduled to begin on September 9. India and Pakistan are set to clash on September 14 in Dubai, with a potential second encounter on September 21 at the same venue. The tournament final is scheduled for September 29 in Dubai.
