KEY POINTS
- India’s sports ministry bans all bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan, including those at neutral venues
- Indian teams can still compete in multilateral tournaments involving Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: India’s sports ministry has announced a complete ban on all bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan, even on neutral venues, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Thursday.
However, the ministry allowed Indian teams to participate in multilateral tournaments, such as the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, where a high-stakes encounter with Pakistan is scheduled for September 14 in Dubai.
Citing a senior official from the ministry, PTI stated that the new policy is effective immediately and bars Indian athletes from traveling to Pakistan for bilateral events, while also prohibiting Pakistani sportspersons from entering India for similar engagements.
“India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country,” the policy reportedly states.
It further clarified that Indian athletes will participate in multilateral events abroad or at home that also feature Pakistani teams or athletes, as these are governed by international sporting bodies and are considered exceptions to the ban.
“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 statement read.
The move comes amid political tensions between the two South Asian neighbours, which have long spilled over into the sporting arena, resulting in postponed or relocated fixtures.
In recent years, bilateral cricket series have been abandoned, with organisers resorting to hybrid models or neutral venues to manage hostilities.
In a reciprocal move last month, Pakistan’s Sports Board (PSB) instructed all national sports federations to seek prior clearance before competing in India, citing security concerns.
The Press Trust of India also reported that when asked about the possibility of Indian teams traveling to Pakistan for multilateral events, the source responded, “In that scenario, we will examine the case before deciding anything.”
The clarification comes just weeks after a scheduled cricket match between Pakistan Legends and India Legends at Champions of Legends League was called off, with Indian players refusing to play.
