An India-Pakistan cricket match in either of the countries is unlikely to materialise in the near future, but the arch-rivals are expected to meet on a hockey turf in Jalandhar on November 1.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Tuesday that Pakistan will participate in the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy to be hosted by India. "On November 1, Punjab Day, at 7 PM, Jalandhar will witness the historic mega clash between India and Pakistan," Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann posted on X.
Also read: Here's why Team India wouldn't hesitate to collect the Asia Cup trophy next year
The tournament will feature six nations, including Japan, Malaysia, China and South Korea. The championship will be played from October 27 to November 5, with all league matches scheduled in Jalandhar and the semifinals and final in Mohali.
The diplomatic tension between the countries has increased since the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. The cricket boards in India and Pakistan have an agreement not to play bilateral series or visit each other. The last time an Indian cricket team visited Pakistan was in 2023, while the Indian cricket team last travelled across the border in 2008.
However, the government of India recently revised its policy toward Pakistan's participation in international sporting events in India.
An order issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in May says that "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,” the order says.
However, the government of Pakistan has yet to confirm its team's participation. Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani was quoted by the Dawn newspaper as saying the decision rests with the government.
“The visit of the Pakistan team will depend on government clearance. We will do whatever the government asks us to do," Wani, who is also the federal secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, told Dawn.
The development comes within days of the Indian women's cricket team refusing to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan's Mohsin Naqvi, who is the president of the Asian Cricket Council.
Compiled by Arun George
