Suspense ends on India vs Pakistan clash in Asia Cup: Sports ministry issues new policy - All you need to know

File Pic: Players after India vs Pakistan match

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EXCLUSIVE: India to boycott Pakistan in Asia Cup? Harbhajan Singh says, 'Khoon aur paani ek saath nahi beh sakte'

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India vs Pakistan: Bilateral freeze remains

Multilateral participation protected

NEW DELHI: India’s cricket team will continue to feature in next month’s Asia Cup , with the Sports Ministry clarifying on Thursday that its new stance on international sporting engagements with Pakistan will not affect multilateral tournaments. The ministry, however, reiterated that bilateral contests between India and Pakistan remain suspended, in line with New Delhi’s broader policy.The fresh policy announcement comes against the backdrop of recurring questions over whether India would travel for tournaments involving Pakistan or host matches featuring its arch-rival. Officials stressed that the distinction between bilateral engagements and multilateral competitions is central to the new framework.“We will not stop the Indian cricket team from playing in the Asia Cup as it is multilateral,” a ministry source confirmed to PTI.The ministry statement made it clear that there will be no resumption of bilateral sporting ties. “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 policy read.This effectively rules out any possibility of an India-Pakistan cricket series on home soil or away, a scenario that has been off the table since 2012-13. The two nations have since faced off only in ICC or ACC events, such as the World Cup, T20 World Cup and Asia Cup.While bilateral ties remain frozen, India’s participation in global and continental events remains assured. “We will abide by the Olympic Charter,” the official said, underlining India’s responsibility as a sporting nation to not obstruct international events due to political considerations.This means Indian teams and athletes will continue to compete in tournaments that also feature Pakistan — whether abroad or at home. Similarly, Pakistani athletes will be able to take part in multilateral events hosted by India.The announcement reaffirms India’s dual stance: no bilateral sporting revival with Pakistan, but no obstruction of multilateral tournaments either. For Indian cricket fans, it means that the highly anticipated Asia Cup, where India and Pakistan could clash three times, remains firmly on the calendar.

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