Since the schedule of the Asia Cup 2025 was announced, there’s been a recurring debate over whether the two teams, India and Pakistan, should indulge in a cricketing contest, considering their worsened political relations. This controversy intensified in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, which was followed by Operation Sindoor. Now, just days before the start of the highly anticipated IND vs PAK match, a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court, seeking cancellation of the high-profile contest. The battle is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 14.
Will IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 match be cancelled? Supreme Court of India issues key verdict on PIL
The Supreme Court has today refused to urgently list the plea, a decision that essentially clears the path for the match to proceed as scheduled. The matter was mentioned before a bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi, where the counsel for the petitioners sought an urgent listing for the very next day. When the counsel pointed out that the match was on Sunday, September 14, and the petition would become infructuous if not heard, the judges remained unmoved.
As per the Livelaw.in, the Court’s stance was resolute, and Justice Maheshwari’s remarks made its position clear. “What is the urgency? It’s a match, let it be,” the judge initially remarked. He further added, “Match is this Sunday? What we can do in that? Let it be. Match should go on,” Despite the counsel’s persistent plea that the matter, regardless of its merit, should at least be listed for a hearing, the bench declined the request. Justice Maheshwari reiterated his point, saying, “Everyday one side, other side, there’s a match…one ball…”, cementing the Court’s final decision that it would not intervene in a sporting contest.
PIL argues cricket ‘belittles’ sacrifices; seeks sports governance reform
The Public Interest Litigation was filed by four law students who argued that India playing a cricket match with Pakistan was against national interest, especially in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The plea stated that “playing with Pakistan sent the opposite message that while our soldiers sacrificing their lives, we are celebrating sports with the same country sheltering terrorists,”
The petitioners also contended that the match could “also hurt the sentiments of the families of the victims who lost their lives in the hand of the Pakistani terrorist,” They firmly asserted that “the dignity of the nation and security of citizens come before entertainment,” In addition to seeking the cancellation of the match, the petitioners’ plea also called for a direction to the Ministry of Youth Affairs to implement the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, which they argued would bring the BCCI under the purview of the government.
