No bilaterals with Pak, says government, but sources say won't stop cricket team from playing in Asia Cup

A source from the Sports Ministry has confirmed that the Indian cricket team will not be prevented from taking part in the upcoming Asia Cup, even though bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan remain suspended.

India continues to uphold its firm policy of not engaging in bilateral sports events with Pakistan. Officially, India will neither send teams to compete in Pakistan nor allow Pakistani teams to play on Indian soil. This stance applies across all sports and reflects the country's wider diplomatic approach towards Pakistan.

"Insofar 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," the source explained, emphasising that the policy remains unchanged.

However, the policy does not extend to multilateral tournaments such as the Asia Cup, where India and Pakistan may face each other under the auspices of international sports bodies. Such events provide a neutral platform for competition without requiring bilateral arrangements.