The Supreme Court on Thursday refused urgent listing of a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought cancellation of the India-Pakistan cricket match scheduled for September 14 in the Asia Cup T20 tournament.
The matter was mentioned before a bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi, but it was unmoved.
“What is the urgency? It’s a match, let it be,” Justice Maheshwari told the counsel who pressed for the matter to be listed on Friday.
Four law students had moved a PIL seeking cancellation of the match on the cricket match with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. They contended that the cricket body by organising the mtch had sent a message inconsistent with national dignity and public sentiment.
“Cricket between nation is meant to show harmony and friendship. But after the Phalagam 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 said.
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.”
The plea said a cricket match between the two countries was “detrimental to the national interests” and morale of the armed forces and the nation as a whole.