The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that India will not skip their upcoming Asia Cup match against Pakistan, despite growing calls for a boycott from Indian fans. BCCI Secretary Debajit Saikia said under the country’s newly revised sports policy, Team India must play all fixtures in multinational tournaments, regardless of diplomatic tensions.

Political strain between India and Pakistan has long spilled into cricket. After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, India stopped touring Pakistan and halted bilateral cricket ties. Although Pakistan toured India for a brief series in 2012, relations have remained tense. The recent attack in Pahalgam further worsened ties, fueling demands from Indian supporters to boycott matches against Pakistan in international competitions.

Saikia clarified that while India will not engage in bilateral series with countries it has strained relations with, this restriction does not apply to multinational events. “The central government’s directives guide us, and under the updated policy, there are no restrictions on playing in global or regional tournaments. India must compete in all scheduled matches, even against nations with whom relations are tense,” he explained.

Following the Pahalgam attack, India updated its sporting guidelines, and BCCI expressed satisfaction with the clarity it provides. Saikia further warned that boycotting matches in events organized by bodies like the ICC or ACC could lead to sanctions. “This is not limited to cricket; the same principle applies to all sports,” he added.