In a fiery turn of events, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to urgently hear a PIL seeking cancellation of the India–Pakistan T20 Asia Cup match on September 14 in the UAE, sparking outrage among citizens still reeling from the Pahalgam terror attack.
The petitioners argued that holding a high-profile cricket match against Pakistan so soon after the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, which claimed 26 civilian lives, was “against national interest” and disrespected the sacrifices of soldiers and civilians. In retaliation, India had launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure across the border.
During the brief court mention, petitioners’ counsel urged, “The match is on Sunday. Please list it tomorrow.” However, Justice J.K. Maheshwari decisively rejected the plea, stating bluntly, “The match must go on.” Even when the lawyer admitted, “I may have a bad case,” the court refused any intervention, leaving the plea unheard.
The PIL, filed under Article 32, also sought to bring the BCCI under the Ministry of Sports and implement the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, aiming to make cricketing decisions more transparent and accountable.
