India refuses to play any form of cricket with Pakistan: reports

Politics is once again hindering cricket, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to engage in any form of cricket with Pakistan following a terrorist attack in the Indian-occupied region of Pahalgam, Kashmir.

According to Indian media reports, the decision comes under pressure from the Indian government. The BCCI stated that, considering the Pahalgam incident and the current strained diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan, no bilateral cricket matches will be held with Pakistan at any level.

A spokesperson for the Indian board cited security concerns as the primary reason behind the decision and issued a veiled warning that even upcoming India-Pakistan matches in ICC tournaments could be reconsidered.

The terrorist attack took place on Tuesday, April 22, in Pahalgam, located in Indian-occupied Kashmir, claiming the lives of 26 tourists. Without waiting for a formal investigation, India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. The BCCI then announced a complete boycott of cricketing ties with Pakistan, reportedly acting on instructions from the government.

This decision has now cast a shadow over major international tournaments such as the Asia Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy, both of which could potentially host high-profile India-Pakistan clashes.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not issued any official response to the BCCI’s unilateral move.

The last bilateral ODI series between India and Pakistan was held in 2012. Since then, the two sides have only faced each other in multi-nation tournaments, such as those organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC).