During Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, there was no discussion about resuming bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan, despite prior media speculation. Reports indicate that Jaishankar’s visit focused solely on SCO-related matters, and the potential revival of a Pakistan-India cricket series was not addressed.
While India is expected to visit Pakistan in February 2025 for the ICC Champions Trophy, formal confirmation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding their participation has yet to be provided to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The last bilateral cricket series between the two nations took place in 2012-13, and India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup. Currently, India and Pakistan only compete in International Cricket Council (ICC) events due to ongoing political tensions.
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There were earlier speculations that Pakistan might not oppose BCCI Secretary Jay Shah’s potential appointment as ICC chairman, possibly indicating a cooperative relationship between the two cricket boards, but no official confirmation of such a deal has emerged.
At the SCO summit, Jaishankar had emphasized the importance of resolving challenges between neighboring countries through honest dialogue and cooperation. He congratulated Pakistan on assuming the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government and assured India’s full cooperation during Pakistan’s tenure. He also pointed out global issues, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and called for mutual trust and cooperation among SCO member states.
