ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Supreme Court of India on Thursday refused to grant an urgent hearing to a petition for cancellation of the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match scheduled on September 14 in Dubai, NDTV reported.
The bench, comprising justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi, turned down the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by four law students, stating it’s only a match.
The PIL used the argument that playing Pakistan just after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor would be a message that does not align with national pride and public perception.
The petition also argued that cricket should not be given precedence over national security, the lives of citizens, or the sacrifice of soldiers.
Match this Sunday? What can we do about that? Let it be. The match should go on,” Justice Maheshwari stated at the short hearing.
The lawyers for the petitioners asked that the plea at least be set for a hearing, whether on its merits or not. The Bench rejected the prayer for urgent listing and reaffirmed that the match would proceed as planned.
