India’s foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday dismissed media reports suggesting discussions on resuming cricket ties between Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Jaishankar arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for the summit, marking the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly a decade. On Wednesday, over lunch, Jaishankar and FM Dar reportedly exchanged a few words, sparking speculation that the topic of cricket was discussed. However, FM Dar did not respond when local news outlet Dawn sought confirmation.
Earlier today, The Times of India, citing diplomatic sources, reported that the two ministers had “casual conversations” and mentioned a “brief pull aside” during Tuesday’s dinner, where Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi allegedly joined them. According to the report, Pakistan suggested resuming bilateral cricket ties as a way to “break the ice” between the two nations.
When questioned during a weekly press briefing, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Jaiswal refuted these claims. “Nothing of that sort happened … also the reports that you saw were not accurate,” he said, denying any cricket-related discussions between the two ministers.
India and Pakistan have not engaged in bilateral cricket since 2008 due to strained political relations, and their encounters are now limited to multi-nation tournaments. Last year, India declined to play in Pakistan during the Asia Cup, participating instead in Sri Lanka under a “hybrid model.” The final decision regarding India’s participation in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, set to be hosted by Pakistan, will depend on the Indian government’s approval, according to BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla.
Pakistan is set to host the Champions Trophy from February 19 to March 9, 2025, having won the last edition in England in 2017. However, the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations have left cricket fans awaiting any potential breakthrough.
