BCCI Clarifies Policy on Playing Against Pakistan in Asia Cup

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a clarification regarding India’s participation against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, stating that the board is bound to follow the central government’s policy.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia explained that under India’s current policy, the country is permitted to compete in multinational or international tournaments, even if teams from nations with which India does not share friendly relations are involved.

He emphasized that since the Asia Cup is a multinational event, India will participate, including matches against Pakistan. *“The policy clearly states that if a tournament is multinational, India must take part regardless of the countries involved,”* Saikia said.

He further noted that this directive is not limited to cricket but applies to other sports as well. Refusing to compete against certain nations could invite international sanctions on sports federations. *“For example, if the Athletics Federation were banned, athletes like Neeraj Chopra would be barred from global competitions, which would harm their careers,”* he explained.

Saikia added that the policy was formulated carefully by the Indian government to ensure that players are not deprived of opportunities at the global stage, while also strengthening India’s standing in international sports.