The prolonged absence of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan continues to reflect deeper structural and political challenges, with little clarity on when the two sides might resume regular series. That uncertainty has been reinforced by former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi, who ruled out a near-term return of bilateral ties while speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast with former England Captain Michael Vaughan.
Politicisation concerns driving the stalemate
At the centre of the issue, Modi pointed to what he described as sustained political influence over the Pakistan Cricket Board, suggesting it has fundamentally complicated decision-making and any effort to revive cricketing ties. “I was the one that brought Pakistani players into the IPL and then I had to move them after the 26/11 massacre in Bombay. The problem is if the Pakistan Cricket Board was independent and ran independently, if it wasn’t politically influenced, we would have some traction. But today the Pakistan Cricket Board is so politicised by the powers that be and they are pulling the levers and making it political. We have tension at that level, political level and that is not going away. It’s only going to get worse. So I fear for the players,” he said.
No near-term pathway despite neutral venue discussions
Even proposals to stage matches outside India and Pakistan have failed to provide a workable solution, with logistical alternatives unable to address the broader governance concerns surrounding the relationship between the two boards.
“I fear that it may not be possible in the near future primarily because of the politicisation by the Pakistan Cricket Board in Pakistan and unfortunately that’s the way it is,” Modi said.
Bilateral ties absent since last series
The two nations last contested a bilateral series during the 2012–13 season, when Pakistan toured India for a limited-overs assignment. Since then, meetings between the sides have been restricted to ICC tournaments and multi-nation competitions such as the Asia Cup, highlighting how political dynamics have reshaped one of cricket’s most high-profile rivalries.
Wider ripple effects across international cricket
The ongoing uncertainty has also begun to influence decisions beyond India and Pakistan, particularly around participation and travel in major events. Bangladesh’s reluctance to travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup due to security concerns is one such example, reflecting how broader tensions are impacting the global calendar.
“I don’t see an immediate solution right now, and you saw Bangladesh trying to get into it. They shouldn’t have,” Modi said.
With no clear pathway to restoring bilateral series, the continued deadlock leaves a significant gap in the cricketing landscape, limiting one of the sport’s biggest commercial rivalries to global tournaments while reinforcing the long-term impact of geopolitics on the game.
