India and Pakistan will face each other in next month’s Asia Cup after New Delhi clarified that its ban on bilateral sport with Pakistan does not apply to multi-team tournaments.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports spelt out the position in a seven-point statement on Wednesday, easing doubts over the men’s Asia Cup in the UAE and the women’s ODI World Cup in India later this year.
Key points first
• India will not tour Pakistan, nor host Pakistan, for bilateral series.
• Both nations may meet in events organised by international bodies.
• Pakistani athletes can enter multi-nation tournaments staged in India.
• Visa procedures for athletes and officials will be simplified.
“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,” the ministry said.
The next paragraph of the statement addressed multi-team events: “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. It is also relevant to take into account India’s emergence as a credible venue to host international sports events.”
In practical terms, the guidance clears the way for India and Pakistan to share a field as early as 14 September, when the group-stage fixture is pencilled in for Dubai. They could meet again in the Super Four phase and the final. Their most recent contest came at the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Context and recent tensions
Political relations have remained strained since the Pahalgam terror attack in April. In that climate several politicians had urged a blanket boycott of Pakistani teams. The mood even spilled into July’s World Championship of Legends, where two matches between the countries’ retired cricketers were abandoned and the India Champions forfeited a semi-final.
The ministry’s intervention has steadied nerves inside the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and among broadcasters. One senior BCCI administrator, speaking on background, described the clarification as “a relief, because schedules, visas and broadcast plans were already locked in”.
Scope for Pakistani visitors
The statement also promised a smoother entry process for visiting athletes: “To position India as a preferred destination for hosting international sporting events, the visa process for sportspersons, team officials, technical personnel, and office-bearers of International Sports Governing Bodies shall be simplified… This shall facilitate their smooth movement into and within the country.”
Analytical view
The policy stops short of a thaw in bilateral cricket – the last full series between the neighbours was over a decade ago. Yet it aligns with India’s long-standing approach: isolate Pakistan bilaterally while keeping the door ajar for ICC and ACC competitions. Administrators argue that refusing to play at all would risk sanctions and alienate neutral fans, while still allowing New Delhi to signal its displeasure.
For Pakistan’s cricket board the news is equally significant. Without India, the commercial value of any tournament drops sharply. Former Pakistan captain and television analyst Sana Mir pointed out this week, “Every global broadcaster wants an India-Pakistan match; it keeps the tournament relevant.”
Next steps
The Asia Cup shifts to the UAE on 1 September after being moved from India in July. India and Pakistan are in the same initial group, alongside the qualifying side from the ACC pathway tournament. Tickets are already sold out for the Dubai date.
Looking further ahead, Pakistan are due in India for the women’s World Cup in October. The ministry’s stance suggests their involvement should proceed without late diplomatic drama, provided security clearances follow the same template.
Cricket followers have grown used to geopolitical undercurrents shaping the fixture list. This latest clarification does not resolve every uncertainty – notably whether India would travel to Pakistan for a Champions Trophy – but it at least confirms that the sport’s most watched rivalry will stay on the calendar, for now.
