The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has officially clarified India’s stance on sporting ties with Pakistan. As per the new policy, Indian teams will not travel to Pakistan for any bilateral tournaments, and similarly, Pakistani teams will not be invited to play in India. The government stressed that this restriction applies only to bilateral series or events hosted in each other’s countries.
At the same time, the policy allows both nations to compete in multilateral tournaments. This means Indian teams can take part in global or regional competitions where Pakistan is also participating. Likewise, Pakistan’s players and teams will be able to feature in international events hosted by India. Officials said the decision balances political sensitivities with the sporting interests of athletes.
Officials further explained that this approach has been taken because India is positioning itself as a major host of multinational sports events in the coming years. By keeping doors open for global tournaments, the government wants to ensure that international events can be staged smoothly in India without political hurdles.
The announcement has also cleared doubts over the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025. The two teams will face each other on September 14 in Dubai, and could meet again in the Super Four and the final if they progress. Along with UAE and Oman, both India and Pakistan are placed in Group A of the tournament.
