NEW DELHI: India’s sports ministry on Thursday declared that India and Pakistan would not have any bilateral sporting ties even on neutral venues as per an unprecedented new policy but the cricket team would not be stopped from playing the Asia Cup next month as it is a multi-lateral engagement, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Thursday.

Political tensions between the neighbouring arch-rivals over the years have cast a shadow over bilateral sporting events, causing major tournaments to hang in the balance. The countries’ teams have previously refused to travel across the border for sporting events, electing to play on neutral ground via a hybrid model instead.

Last month, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) instructed all national sports federations to seek prior consultation and approval before participating in any sporting events held in India due to “security concerns”.

According to PTI, India’s sports ministry unveiled the new policy with regard to India’s international engagements with emphasis on Pakistan.

It added that a well-placed ministry source said the policy, which bars Indian athletes from travelling to Pakistan and likewise disallows Pakistan sportspersons from going to India for bilateral events, was immediately effective.

Asked if Indian teams would be allowed to travel to Pakistan for any multilateral competitions, the source was quoted as saying: “In that scenario, we will examine the case before deciding anything.”

India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country, the new policy read.

“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 document added.

“It is also relevant to take into account India’s emergence as a credible venue to host international sports events.”

Accordingly, Indian teams and individual players will take part in international events that also have teams or players from Pakistan, the policy stated, adding that Pakistan players and teams will be able to participate in such multilateral events hosted by India.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the Pakistan-India clash for the T20 Asia Cup would be held in Dubai on Sept 14.

In July, a cricket match between former players of India and Pakistan was called off in England after the Indian side refused to play against their Pakistan counterparts, citing recent “geopolitical tensions” between the two nations.

Published in Dawn, August 22th, 2025