Sports Desk
22 August
Tv10punjab
The Union Sports Ministry on Friday announced a new policy clearly stating that India will not participate in any bilateral sports events with Pakistan. However, the Indian cricket team and other national squads will not be stopped from taking part in multinational tournaments such as the upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled to be held next month.
According to official sources, this revised policy has come into immediate effect and has been framed with a special focus on Pakistan. The ministry clarified that India’s approach to Pakistan’s participation in sports reflects its overall diplomatic and political stance towards the neighboring country.
The policy states, “As far as bilateral sports competitions are concerned, Indian teams will not travel to Pakistan for any tournaments, nor will Pakistani teams be invited to play in India.” However, multinational tournaments will not be affected by this decision.
A senior ministry official explained, “We will not restrict the Indian cricket team from playing in the Asia Cup because it is a multinational tournament. But Pakistan will not be allowed to come to India for bilateral series. Our position is consistent with the government’s overall foreign policy approach.”
The ministry further stressed that while India would not host Pakistan for direct tournaments, it would honor commitments under the Olympic Charter and other global sports regulations. This means that Pakistan’s participation in global or regional tournaments held in India will not be blocked.
When asked if Indian teams would be allowed to travel to Pakistan for multinational events, the official responded cautiously, “Such decisions will be taken after careful examination of the situation. We cannot put our athletes in a difficult position by withdrawing them from multinational competitions.”
This policy draws a firm line between bilateral and multinational sporting relations, reflecting India’s tough stand on Pakistan while ensuring Indian athletes remain part of the global sports community.