The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 11, 2025) declined to urgently hear a petition that sought cancellation of the India–Pakistan cricket match scheduled for September 14 as half of the Asia Cup T20 match.
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The petition, filed by 4 legislation college students, contended that staging the match within the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror assault and Operation Sindoor is “against national interest” and demeans the sacrifices of armed forces and civilians who misplaced their lives within the assault.
When the matter was talked about earlier than a Bench of Justices J.Ok. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi for urgent listing, the Bench declined to entertain the plea. “What is the urgency? It’s a match, let it be,” Justice Maheshwari advised the counsel who urged the court docket to listing the matter on Friday (September 12).
When the lawyer identified that the match was to be held on Sunday (September 14) and that the petition would in any other case turn out to be infructuous, the Bench remained unmoved. “Match is this Sunday? What can we do about that? Let it be. The match should go on,” it stated.
Even because the lawyer insisted that the deserves of the case had been immaterial and that it should be heard, the Bench reiterated its refusal.
‘National interest’
“Playing with Pakistan sends the opposite message, that while our soldiers are sacrificing their lives, we are celebrating sports with the same country sheltering terrorists. It can also hurt the sentiments of the families of the victims. The dignity of the nation and security of citizens come before entertainment,” the plea, filed by means of advocates Sneha Rani, Abhishek Verma and Md. Anas Chaudhary stated.
The petitioners submitted that cricket can’t be positioned above nationwide curiosity, the lives of residents, or the sacrifices of armed personnel, cautioning that permitting the match to proceed would undermine the morale of each the armed forces and the general public. “The nation’s dignity and security must outweigh considerations of entertainment and revenue generation,” they stated.
In addition to in search of cancellation of the match, the scholars urged the Ministry of Youth Affairs to implement the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and to convey “season ball” cricket throughout the ambit of a recognised National Sports Federation.
They additional submitted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has been arrayed as a respondent, should be introduced beneath the ambit of the Sports Ministry. “It is high time that the BCCI is brought under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Once the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, is implemented, BCCI will necessarily have to fall under the National Sports Board created under the Act,” the petitioners stated.
