A plea to cancel the India-Pakistan cricket match in the upcoming Asia Cup was denied an urgent listing by the Supreme Court on Thursday. A lawyer brought forward the issue for urgent listing before a bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi.
“What is the urgency? It’s a match, let it be. Match is this Sunday, what can be done?” the bench observed.
The lawyer argued that the cricket match is on Sunday and that if the matter is not mentioned by Friday, the petition will be nullified. The bench said, “Match is this Sunday? What can we do about that? Let it be. Match should go on.”
Four law students, led by Urvashi Jain, filed the plea, arguing that playing cricket with Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack conveys a message that is at odds with public mood and national honor.
The 2025 Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 14.
“Cricket between nations is meant to show harmony and friendship. But after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, when our people died and our soldiers risked everything, playing with Pakistan sent the opposite message that while our soldiers sacrificing their lives, we are celebrating sports with the same country sheltering terrorists (sic),” the plea submitted.
The petitioners added, “It can also hurt the sentiments of the families of the victims who lost their lives in the hand of the Pakistani terrorist. The dignity of nation and security of citizens come before entertainment.”
A cricket match between the two nations was deemed “detrimental to the national interests” and the morale of the military services and the country overall, according to the plea.
