The Supreme Court of India has declined an urgent hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the cancellation of the India-Pakistan T20 cricket match scheduled for September 14, 2025 in Dubai as part of the Asia Cup. A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi refused to list the matter urgently, stating that the “match must go on.”
What the PIL Argued
- The petition was filed by four law students, led by Urvashi Jain, who claimed that holding the match so soon after the Pahalgam terror attack (in which 26 civilians were killed) and Operation Sindoor was insensitive to public sentiment and national dignity.
- They argued that playing a high-profile match with Pakistan sends a message inconsistent with the sacrifices of soldiers and civilians and could hurt morale.
- The plea also sought directions to bring sporting bodies under the purview of the new National Sports Governance Act, 2025, to ensure accountability in how sports fixtures are decided.
The Court’s Response
- When the counsel asked to list the matter for urgent hearing, the bench asked, “What is the urgency? It’s a match, let it be.”
- The court held firm, saying it was not going to intervene.
- The judges noted that with the match scheduled for Sunday, cancelling or taking urgent action would not serve much purpose. They reaffirmed that the match will go ahead as planned.
