Playing it SAF and fair for our athletes

India's decision to give in-principle consent to participate in the 2027 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Pakistan is a good call. For athletes, international competitions are not ceremonial events. They are where preparation meets pressure, and talent is tested against unfamiliar opponents, conditions and styles. GoI's position is clear: multilateral sporting events follow their own rules, and are separate from bilateral relations. That distinction matters. Pakistan may remain a difficult SAF bilateral partner, but an Indian athlete competing in a regional sporting event is not a diplomatic concession. India is behaving like a true sporting nation.

The decision sits comfortably with Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, whose ambition is to transform India into a global sporting power. India has a regional games strategy in place, and these events offer ranking points, experience, confidence and, just as importantly, a chance for coaches and federations to identify what needs fixing before the stakes get higher. Policy recognises international competition as a vital part of the athlete-development pathway, alongside training, sports science and high-performance support. So, it would be odd to build an ecosystem designed to produce athletes capable of competing with the world, and then ask them to sit out competitions simply because the host country happens to be Pakistan. Earlier this week, a 503-member Indian contingent left for Asian Games in Japan, of which over 300 athletes are first-timers.

But the nod for SAF Games also raises a fundamental question: if sport can be kept separate from bilateral disputes for a multi-sport event in Pakistan, what's sauce for the SAF Games should surely be sauce for cricket too. Yes, it's an appeal.