The Indian government has reiterated its position on bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan, saying that while bilateral series between the two nations remain suspended, participation in multi-nation tournaments that include Pakistan is not restricted. The clearance from the government has paved the way for India and Pakistan's upcoming meeting in the men's Asia Cup (2025) in September and the women's ODI World Cup (2025) in October. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports issued a statement, clarifying its stance on the matter.
"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. 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," read the statement released by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The highly anticipated Asia Cup will begin on September 9 in the UAE, and both India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet on September 14 in the blockbuster showdown at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in a Group A fixture. Notably, India and Pakistan have not played any bilateral series since 2012; however, they have played against each other a lot of times at world events such as the ODI and T20 World Cups.