When it comes to ICC events … BCCI VP Rajiv Shukla clarified the stance on Ind vs Pak cricket

India Cricket Team does not play Pakistan Cricket Team in a bilateral series. And there won’t be any soon, the BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla told the media in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Shukla said that the BCCI will follow the Indian government’s guidelines on this matter. However, when it comes to ICC events, India do play Pakistan. Whether the IND vs PAK cricket events will continue in the ICC or ACC events will be interesting to see.

“We are with the victims and we condemn it. Whatever our government says, we will do. We don’t play with Pakistan in a bilateral series because of the government’s stand. And we will not play with Pakistan in bilaterals going forward,” Rajeev Shukla told reporters on Thursday.

Ball is in ICC’s court

There has been no IND vs PAK bilateral series since 2013. In 2012, Pakistan visited India for a limited-overs series. However, since then, India have met Pakistan 22 times, winning 19 of them, all in either ICC events or in the Asia Cup. Team India played Pakistan in Dubai in the ICC Champions Trophy in February this year. However, Shukla put the ball in ICC’s court to take a call on IND vs PAK matches.

“But when it comes to ICC events, we play due to ICC engagement. ICC is also aware that whatever is happening, they will look into it,” Shukla said.

India are scheduled to face Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025, T20 World Cup 2026 and Women’s World Cup 2025. All the IND vs PAK matches are supposed to be held in neutral venues. But the question remains, will India boycott the matches or will they adhere to the ICC’s scheduling? Former BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is now the ICC chairman. The ball is now in his court to dismantle India vs Pakistan matches and risk losing millions in broadcast revenue.

England boycotted matches in Zimbabwe in the 2003 World Cup. They gave a walkover instead of travelling to the country. In the 1996 World Cup, Australia and the West Indies refused to travel to Sri Lanka. As a result, Sri Lanka received two walkovers. However, despite taking a tough stance on Pakistan, the BCCI has never boycotted a match against Pakistan.