New Delhi: India is all set to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Thursday unveiled a new policy under which the ban on bilateral events will not be extended to multilateral engagements.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led T20 squad will cross swords with Pakistan in a Group-A fixture on 14 September at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Citing a new policy on India’s international sporting engagements, with emphasis on Pakistan, the ministry clarified that while bilateral contests remain off the table, multilateral tournaments will not be restricted.
“We will not stop the Indian cricket team from playing in the Asia Cup as it is multilateral,” a source in the ministry told news agency PTI.
Adding, “But 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.”
Indian cricket fans as well as politicians, meanwhile, have expressed disappointment over the ministry’s decision, with many calling it “betrayal, not cricket”.
The hashtag ‘boycottIndvsPak’ was trending on social media for several hours Thursday.
Sharing the ministry’s statement, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed her disappointment. “This is such a sorry excuse to allow India-Pak match in the upcoming Asia Cup. What a letdown by the Sports Ministry,” she posted on ‘X’.
An ‘X’ user called it a “disappointing decision”, while another labelled it “shameful”.
“Shame on Modi Govt. Pakistan Govt didn’t allow their hockey team to travel to India for Asia Cup Hockey. But the Modi Govt has allowed the BCCI to play with Pakistan. Shame!” wrote another user.
Some even pulled out the disturbing images of the Pahalgam terror attack to condemn the decision. “Pahalgam terror attack still bleeds in our hearts yet they want India to play Pakistan? This is not Cricket, its betrayal,” one social media user posted.
The debate over India’s participation had been brewing ever since the Asia Cup schedule was released last month. There were rumours that India might pull out from the entire tournament after Yuvraj Singh and Co. withdrew from a Celebrity Cricket League semi-final match against a Pakistan team. On Tuesday, during a press conference in Mumbai, when skipper Suryakumar was asked about India’s participation in the match against Pakistan, the query was promptly intercepted by the team’s media manager.
He then urged the reporters to restrict questions to squad selection only.
However, the ministry has now put all speculations to rest.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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