India will not engage in any bilateral sporting contest with Pakistan but will continue to face the neighbours in multilateral tournaments such as the upcoming Asia Cup cricket event. This was confirmed in the new policy announced by the government on Thursday with regard to India’s sporting engagements with Pakistan. It said that sporting teams and individuals from the two countries won’t visit each other for bilateral contests.
“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 policy stated.
But with India aspiring to host major international multi-sport events, including the 2036 Summer Olympics, such restrictions may not apply to multilateral competitions.
“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,” read the policy document accessed by The Indian Express.
Asked if Indian athletes will be allowed to travel to Pakistan for competition, a sports ministry source said, “In that scenario, we will examine the case before deciding anything. Even in multilateral events, we can’t leave our athletes in the lurch.”
“The policy clearly mentions that Indian athletes or teams won’t be involved with Pakistan in any bilateral contests across sports. However, the teams and players will feature in multinational and multilateral tournaments across the globe.”
Denying sportspersons from any country the chance to compete in a multinational or multilateral event in another country is a direct violation of the Olympic Charter.
The issue of the Indian men’s cricket team playing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and the Pakistan men’s hockey team crossing the border for the Asia Cup have generated much debate in the country, given the heightened tensions between the two countries.
While the Pakistan hockey team pulled out of the men’s Asia Cup despite the Indian government deciding to allow them in the country, the cricket match between the two countries will go ahead as per plan in Dubai next month.
The announcement of the policy is also an attempt to portray India as a viable host for major sporting events such as the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics.
“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,” the policy added.
BCCI elections
The sports ministry is trying to put into effect the recently- passed National Sports Governance Bill so that the next BCCI elections can be held according to its provisions.
“We are working to get it done as soon as possible so that the BCCI elections and other polls are conducted under the new Act,” the source said. However, if the new legislation’s rules are not notified in time, the cricketing body can hold its election according to the provisions of the Supreme Court-approved Lodha Committee. “Once the rules are notified, all NSFs, including the BCCI, will have to hold elections as per its norms.”
The new legislation allows ex-BCCI president Roger Binny to return to the fray as it allows those in the age-bracket of 70-75 to contest elections, compared to the age cap of 70 years in the Lodha Committee recommendations. The BCCI elections are due in the last week of September at its Annual General Meeting.