The Supreme Court of India has refused to urgently hear a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to cancel the highly anticipated India-Pakistan cricket match in the Asia Cup T20 tournament, scheduled for September 14.
When the matter was brought before a bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi, the justices were unswayed by the plea for an immediate hearing. Justice Maheshwari questioned the urgency, stating, “It’s a match, let it be.” The lawyer for the petitioners, who are four law students, argued that the plea would become meaningless if not heard before the match on Sunday. Justice Maheshwari’s response was definitive: “Match is this Sunday? What can we do about that? Let it be. The match should go on.”
The students had filed the petition arguing that playing against Pakistan so soon after the Pahalgam terror attack and “Operation Sindoor” was “against national interest.” They claimed it undermines the sacrifices of armed forces and civilians, and that engaging in a match with a country that allegedly harbors terrorists sends a “wrong message.” The plea stated that “the dignity of the nation and security of citizens come before entertainment” and that cricket cannot be prioritized over national interest.
In addition to seeking the cancellation of the match, the petitioners asked the court to direct the Ministry of Youth Affairs to implement the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. This Act, which was introduced to the Lok Sabha in July 2025, aims to improve the governance of sports bodies in India, and the petitioners argued that it should be used to bring the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under the purview of the sports ministry.