Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 21: Making its stand clear on the sporting events between India and Pakistan, the Centre on Thursday announced continuation of suspension of bilateral ties even on neutral venues but the Indian teams would take the field against Pakistan in the multi-lateral engagements, virtually clearing the coming Asia Cup tournament to be played in Dubai.
An air of uncertainty was hanging over the India – Pakistan cricket match scheduled to be held in Dubai on September 14 in the Asia Cup tournament because of the strained relations between the two countries, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent “Operations Sindoor.” However, the union sports ministry made the situation clear stating that India and Pakistan won’t engage in any bilateral sporting clash, but the cricket team would not be stopped from playing the multi-lateral Asia Cup next month.
The sports ministry unveiled the unprecedented new policy with regard to India’s international engagements with emphasis on Pakistan. A well-placed ministry source said the policy, which bars Indian athletes from travelling to Pakistan and likewise disallows neighbouring sportspersons from coming here for bilaterals, is effective immediately. “India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country,” states the Ministry policy. “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.
However, the multilateral engagements will not be affected. “We will not stop Indian cricket team from playing in Asia Cup as it is multilateral,” the Ministry source said. “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 Olympic Charter,” sources added.
Asked if Indian teams will be allowed to travel to Pakistan for any multi-lateral competitions, the source said, “In that scenario, we will examine the case before deciding anything. Even in multi-lateral events, we can’t leave our athletes in lurch. After all, Pakistan is a country that has no hesitation in declaring that it is a dumpster and can hit the shining Mercedes that is India,” the source added.
In the detailed policy that has been uploaded on the ministry’s official website, the government named Pakistan, which currently stands accused of being behind the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people leading to a military showdown between the arch-foes in May after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’.
“India and Pakistan cannot play bilateral even if it is planned in America. No bilaterals,” asserted a ministry source. However, multilateral engagements will not be affected and the Asia Cup-bound team will travel to the UAE next month for the eight-team tournament starting September 9, despite social media outrage.
“We will not stop Indian cricket team from playing in Asia Cup as it is a multilateral,” the ministry source said. “For multilateral cricket, we will not come in the way unless the host is Pakistan,” he added.
Asked if the policy could be revised if the ties between the two countries improve, a ministry source said, “At this point, it looks unlikely.” The policy makes it clear that India, which is aspiring to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games, will abide by the Olympic Charter and its philosophy of inclusivity to present itself as an amiable host of global events.
The Asia Cup (and future World Cups) will remain unaffected. “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.
“Accordingly, Indian teams and individual players will take part in international events that also have teams or players from Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistani players and teams will be able to participate in such multilateral events hosted by India,” the policy said. The policy also promises a simpler visa allotment procedure to ‘position India as a preferred destination for hosting international sporting events,’ the visa process for sportspersons, team officials, technical personnel, and office-bearers of International Sports Governing Bodies shall be simplified,” it added.
This was precisely the reason why the government agreed to grant visas to Pakistani hockey players for next month’s Asia Cup in Bihar even though they refused to travel citing security concerns. “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.
The ministry said for office-bearers of International Sports Governing Bodies, a multi-entry visa shall be granted on priority basis for the duration of their official tenure, subject to a maximum period of five years. “This shall facilitate their smooth movement into and within the country, in accordance with international norms. Due protocol and courtesies, as per established practice, shall be extended to the Heads of International Sports Governing Bodies during their visits to India,” it stated.
In the coming Asia Cup next month, India and Pakistan are part of Group A in the eight-team competition. The format allows them to play as many as three times within a few days — if they qualify at the top of their four-team group, they’ll proceed to a round-robin Super-Four, and can then meet again in the final — bringing a windfall of revenue for the broadcaster and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) each time.
Multi-national meetings have been vehemently opposed in the country before. However, the flip side of the coin is that (apart from broadcast revenues), the match is important for the survival of the ACC and its many grassroots projects in the nation.