Pakistan may not take part in upcoming sports events happening in India, as the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has now made it mandatory for all national sports federations to get permission before confirming participation in Indian tournaments.
This new rule, announced by the PSB on July 25 after its 34th board meeting, comes due to growing secur_ity concerns about sending Pakistani athletes to India. According to the directive, no sports body can make its own decision to send teams without first getting official approval from the PSB.
Because of this policy, Pakistan will likely miss major events hosted by India in the near future. One example is the Hockey Asia Cup, which Pakistan may now skip because it is scheduled to take place in India.
The PSB says the purpose of this move is to make sure that athletes and officials remain safe while traveling abroad. Officials want to carefully check each situation before giving the green light for players to travel, especially to countries where secur_ity could be a risk.
While this decision may limit chances for Pakistani players to compete internationally, the PSB has made it clear that the safety and well-being of the country’s athletes is their top concern. Sports experts say this could also affect sports ties between Pakistan and India, which have already faced many ups and downs over the years.
The PSB will review all future invitations for events in India on a case-by-case basis and decide what’s best for the players and the country.
