New Delhi, August 21: The Union Sports Ministry on Thursday confirmed that Team India will play arch-rivals Pakistan during the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to take place on September 14 in Dubai.
The two teams will lock horns at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium in a Group A match of the continental tournament.
The ministry on Thursday announced a new policy regarding India’s international sports activities, especially concerning Pakistan. The ministry made it clear that while bilateral matches will not be allowed, participation in multilateral tournaments is still permitted. The policy means that the team led by Suryakumar Yadav will compete in the Asia Cup as scheduled.
“India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country,” the ministry policy stated.
“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,” it added.
Nevertheless, the multilateral engagements will remain unaffected.
The question of India’s participation in the Asia Cup had been under discussion ever since the tournament’s schedule was finalized last month. The debate intensified following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which further escalated tensions between the two neighbouring countries. At one stage, speculation was widespread that India’s possible withdrawal might even lead to the tournament being called off. However, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) put an end to the uncertainty in late July by issuing an official statement, confirming that the event would proceed as planned.
The controversy took a sharper turn when the Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions team pulled out of two scheduled fixtures against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends, including the high-stakes semifinal clash.
Significantly, both India and Pakistan have not engaged in a bilateral cricket series since the 2012–13 season. Both the men’s and women’s teams of the two nations have only met in multi-nation tournaments or multi-sport events since then. Security concerns have repeatedly influenced scheduling as India declined to tour Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup and the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy, forcing both tournaments to be shifted to neutral venues.
The standoff between the two neighbours has extended beyond cricket as well; most recently, Pakistan’s hockey team opted out of the 2025 Asia Cup Hockey, slated to begin on September 28 in Rajgir (Bihar), citing similar apprehensions.
