The much‑anticipated Pakistan vs India clash at next month’s Asia Cup is officially on, after the Indian government clarified its stance on sporting ties with Pakistan.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, New Delhi reiterated that there will be no bilateral series between the two countries but confirmed that teams and athletes from both sides can still meet in multi‑nation tournaments such as the 2025 Asia Cup. This decision paves the way for the September 14 showdown in Dubai, with the possibility of two more meetings if both sides progress to the latter stages of the tournament.
The clarification also extends to Pakistani players, who will be permitted to feature in international competitions hosted in India. However, the Pakistan government has made it clear that no athletes will be permitted to take part in any event on Indian soil without authorization.
The ruling comes just weeks before the start of the Asia Cup in the UAE, where cricket’s fiercest rivalry will once again take centre stage amid a political storm. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012, though they have regularly locked horns in ICC and ACC tournaments, and tensions remain high. In recent weeks, several voices in India had called for a complete sporting boycott of Pakistan. That pressure even spilled over into the World Championship of Legends in July, where India Champions forfeited their semi‑final against Pakistan Champions.
However, with India’s stance now clarified, the Asia Cup fixture between Pakistan and India will not suffer the same fate. Their upcoming meeting will also be their first official match since the two sides met during the Champions Trophy earlier this year, also staged in Dubai, after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the competition.
For Pakistan fans, this confirmation ensures another chapter in cricket’s most‑watched rivalry. With the Asia Cup returning to the UAE—after originally being scheduled for India—Dubai will once again play host to an occasion that captures the attention of billions across the cricketing world.
While political barriers continue to block bilateral cricket, the lure of Pakistan–India contests in global tournaments remains too powerful to ignore. Come September 14, Dubai will once again witness the clash that defines Asian cricket.