The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has once again made its position clear regarding cricketing ties with Pakistan. Vice President Rajeev Shukla stated on Saturday that the board will not engage in any bilateral series with the neighboring nation unless it receives an explicit green light from the Indian government.
Shukla emphasized that the BCCI remains bound by national policy, especially given the historically strained relations and ongoing security concerns. “Our stated policy is that we will do whatever the Indian government tells us to do in this matter,” Shukla said, noting that the International Cricket Council (ICC) acknowledges a board’s right to follow government directives regarding foreign tours.
The Long Hiatus India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series in over a decade. Their last encounter outside of major tournaments was in 2012-13, when Pakistan toured India for a brief limited-overs series. Since then, face-offs have been restricted to multi-nation events like the Asia Cup and ICC trophies.
Shukla pointed out that while Pakistan has visited India for global events, the current climate makes bilateral tours nearly impossible. He cited the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore as a turning point that fundamentally changed the security assessment for playing in Pakistan.
Impact of ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the Hybrid Model The cricketing divide deepened following “Operation Sindoor” in May 2025—a retaliatory strike by Indian forces against terror sites in Pakistan following an attack in Pahalgam. These geopolitical tensions led the ICC to adopt a “hybrid model” for major tournaments. Under this arrangement, India played its matches for the 2025 Champions Trophy in the UAE instead of traveling to Pakistan. Similarly, when India hosted the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, Pakistan’s matches were moved to Sri Lanka.
Shukla reaffirmed that India’s current policy remains focused on playing Pakistan only on “third soil”—neutral venues or within India during international tournaments—rather than traveling across the border.
Conclusion As long as security risks persist and diplomatic ties remain frozen, fans hoping for a traditional India-Pakistan series will have to wait. For the BCCI, the safety of players and adherence to state policy remain the top priorities, leaving the future of the world’s most anticipated cricket rivalry firmly in the hands of the Indian government.