India bars bilateral sporting clash with Pakistan

ISTANBUL

India on Thursday banned any bilateral sporting clash with Pakistan, an official statement said.

The country’s Sports Ministry, in a policy statement, said, “India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country.”

“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,” the ministry said.

However, it added, 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,” said the ministry, referring to international and multilateral events.

New Delhi’s announcement of a formal sports policy concerning Pakistan comes months after two South Asian nuclear-armed neighbors engaged in cross-border missile firing, leaving dozens of people dead.

However, the fresh order paves the way for two cricket-loving countries to engage in the Asia Cup scheduled for next month in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where other cricketing nations will also play.

The new Indian policy is effective immediately.

Political and military tensions between them have long affected sports and other people-to-people ties between the two neighbors.

Last year, India refused to play Champions Trophy cricket matches in Pakistan, some of which were later shifted to the UAE.