In a significant diplomatic development, India and Pakistan have opened a window of opportunity for resuming cricket ties after years of frozen relations. In a rare direct conversation between the foreign ministers of both countries, talks are underway regarding the possibility of India participating in the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be hosted by Pakistan reported Indian Express.
First diplomatic conversations since 2015
The dialogue between Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar occurred during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Islamabad.
This marks the first official conversation between the foreign ministers of the two nations since 2015. The two diplomats met twice within 24 hours, exchanging ideas over both dinner and lunch, sparking hope for progress in resuming cricketing ties between the neighbours.
Cricket on Table
During the discussions, cricket was a central topic, with Jaishankar reportedly showing interest in the sport. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, who also serves as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), was involved in the conversations.
The possibility of India’s cricket team travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in 2025 emerged as a point of discussion, marking a potential breakthrough in the long-standing freeze between the two cricketing giants.
Champions Trophy in Pakistan
Scheduled to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025, the Champions Trophy will be hosted by Pakistan, a nation with whom India has not played a bilateral series in over 17 years.
If India does agree to participate, it would be the first time the Indian team visits Pakistan since 2008. The PCB has been pushing for India’s participation, offering various options, including hosting all Indian matches in Lahore with a possible fixture in Rawalpindi.
The PCB is keen to finalise the itinerary and accommodate India’s packed international cricket schedule.
Signs of Diplomatic easing
While these talks remain preliminary, both sides have acknowledged the positive atmosphere surrounding the discussions. Unlike previous diplomatic encounters, this meeting avoided the heated rhetoric seen earlier this year.
The last time Jaishankar interacted with a Pakistani counterpart, in Goa in May 2023, the meeting was marred by verbal jabs over issues like terrorism and Kashmir. This time, there was a notable absence of provocations, reflecting a more constructive tone.
Future of India vs Pakistan Cricket Ties
Though no formal decisions have been made, the conversation has raised hopes that cricket diplomacy could act as a bridge between the two nations. Resuming some form of cricketing ties, beginning with India’s participation in the Champions Trophy, could serve as the first step in rebuilding a sporting relationship that has been on hold for more than a decade.
With the PCB’s persistent efforts to bring India to Pakistan for the tournament and the Indian government’s openness to discussing cricket in their diplomatic talks, all eyes are now on whether this window of opportunity will lead to a new chapter in the cricketing rivalry between the two nations.
