'Match must go on': SC refuses urgent hearing of PIL to cancel India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup

The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to urgently list a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking cancellation of the upcoming India vs Pakistan cricket match scheduled for September 14 in Dubai as part of the Asia Cup. The petition, filed by four law students led by Urvashi Jain, was presented before Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi, who maintained that the match should proceed as planned.The petitioners' counsel requested the case to be listed for Friday, considering the match was scheduled for Sunday, September 14."The match is on Sunday. Please list it tomorrow," the counsel submitted to the bench."The match must go on," responded the Supreme Court bench.When the lawyer persisted, stating "I may have a bad case but please get it listed," the Court firmly replied "No, nothing."The petition was filed through advocates Sneha Rani, Abhishek Verma, and Md. Anas Chaudhary, raising concerns about the appropriateness of organising a cricket match with Pakistan following recent political tensions between the two countries.The petitioners argued that holding a cricket match with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, where Indian civilians and soldiers lost their lives, would send a message that conflicts with national dignity and public sentiment.The PIL emphasised that cricket should not take precedence over national interests, civilian lives, or the sacrifices made by armed personnel.The petitioners also sought directions for implementing the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, as part of their legal submission.