With the heat growing over India’s participation and cricket match against Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, a PTI report on Thursday quoted Sports Ministry as saying “India not to participate in competitions in Pakistan, nor will we permit Pakistani teams to play in India in bilateral.”
“India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country,” the ministry policy stated. The report went on to say that the Indian cricket team won’t be stopped from playing in Asia Cup.
“Pakistan will not be allowed on Indian soil for bilateral competitions. But we will not stop them from multilateral events as we will abide by the Olympic Charter,” the report quoted a source as saying.
‘India’s credible venue to host international sports events’
In a note attributed to the Sports Ministry, it said, “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.”
The note further read, “Accordingly, Indian teams and individual players will take part in international events that also have teams or players from Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistani players and teams will be able to participate in such multilateral events hosted by India.”
Simplifying visa process
The note further stated that the government announced streamlining of visa processes for sportspersons, officials and representatives of international governing bodies. Office-bearers of these organisations will be granted priority multi-entry visas for up to five years, the ministry said.
Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to begin on September 9 in UAE and will India will play its first match on September 10. India and Pakistan will face each other in Abu Dhabi on September 14.