Asia Cup 2025: SC Turns Down Plea to Stop India-Pakistan T20 Clash, Says ‘Match Must Go On’

India and Pakistan are set to clash in the Asia Cup 2025 on 14 September in Dubai, but the match has sparked strong opposition in India. The protest comes after the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and India’s counterstrike, Operation Sindoor, against terror camps in Pakistan. A petition filed in the Supreme Court sought to cancel the match, but the court has refused an urgent hearing, asking “what’s the hurry?”

What did SC say?

A public interest litigation (PIL) had been filed in the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the India–Pakistan match to be held on 14 September in the Asia Cup 2025. The advocate who filed this petition argued that the match is on Sunday, and if the matter is not listed on Friday, the petition will become meaningless. On this, the bench of Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi said, “What’s the rush in this? Is the match this Sunday? What can we do in this? Let it happen. The match should go on.” During this, the advocate said that even if my case is weak, please list it. The bench refused.

What has been said in the petition?

Four law students, led by Urvashi Jain, filed this public interest litigation. It states that after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, holding a cricket match with Pakistan sends a message against national dignity and public sentiment. It further states that cricket between two countries is meant to show harmony and friendship, but after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, when our people have been martyred and our soldiers have staked everything, at such a time a match with Pakistan will send a wrong message in the country.

It may hurt sentiments

The petition says that when our soldiers are sacrificing their lives, we are going to celebrate a game with the very country that is giving shelter to terrorists. The petitioners further said, “This could also hurt the feelings of the families of those who lost their lives at the hands of Pakistani terrorists. The country’s dignity and the security of its citizens come before entertainment.” Meanwhile, politics has also begun over the India–Pakistan match.

Political Row Begins Nationwide

Politics has also started regarding this match to be held on 14 September. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut expressed displeasure about this match. In a press conference he said that we will oppose this match. We will run the ‘Sindoor Raksha Abhiyan’ as a form of protest. During this, women will protest on the streets. Sanjay Raut said, “If water and blood cannot flow together, then how can blood and cricket go together?” He said that Operation Sindoor has not ended yet. In Pahalgam, the sindoor (vermilion) of 26 women was wiped out. Their pain, grief and anger are still continuing. Even today they are in shock and now you people are going to play cricket with Pakistan. This is shamelessness and treason. He questioned the BJP, the central government, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the RSS and the Bajrang Dal asking whether they have any role in this matter. Sanjay Raut said that his anger is not against the government but against the BJP and other organisations.