The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced that there will be no bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan in the foreseeable future. This decision comes in the wake of a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which has further strained the already tense relations between the two countries.
India and Pakistan, despite their rich cricketing history, have not played a bilateral series since 2012. Their encounters have been limited to International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments. With the BCCI’s recent declaration, the likelihood of resuming bilateral series appears even more distant.
Speaking to the media, BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla stated, “We stand with the victims of the attack and strongly condemn this incident. Our position remains aligned with the stance of the Indian government. As long as the government maintains its current position, we will not engage in bilateral cricket with Pakistan.”
He further clarified the BCCI’s participation in ICC events involving Pakistan, saying, “We play in ICC tournaments because it is mandated as part of international commitments. The ICC is well aware of the situation and is monitoring it accordingly.”
The last time India and Pakistan faced off in a bilateral series was over a decade ago. Despite calls from cricket fans and analysts to resume such fixtures, the Pahalgam incident has further complicated diplomatic and sporting relations.
India vs Pakistan: A Match Beyond Cricket
India-Pakistan matches have always been high-voltage affairs, drawing massive audiences globally. However, political tensions have kept bilateral cricket off the table, reducing opportunities for fans to witness this iconic rivalry outside of ICC and ACC tournaments.
With the latest developments, the cricketing world may have to wait indefinitely for a revival of regular India-Pakistan series.