A plea filed in the Supreme Court has sought a ban on the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match, claiming the game “sends an anti-national message to our forces and civilians that we do not care for you.”
A petition has been submitted to the Supreme Court, requesting a ban on the India vs Pakistan cricket match scheduled for September 14 in the Asia Cup, declaring it unconstitutional.
The petition, filed by Pune-based activist Ketan Tirodkar, argues that matches between India and Pakistan should not occur in light of the Pahalgam terror attack in May, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals.
Tirodkar’s plea contends that the match violates Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, including the fundamental right to live with dignity for Indian citizens.
Also Read: Cricket Just Changed | New Law On Boundary Catches: All You Need to Know
The petition seeks an order or any appropriate writ under Article 32 of the Constitution, directing the government to enforce the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and to bring the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under the jurisdiction of the National Sports Federation (NSF) immediately.
Additionally, it requests that the BCCI be mandated to register and comply with the rules and guidelines established by the National Sports Board (NSB) under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
The petition asserts that,
“The India vs Pakistan match sends an anti-national message to our forces and civilians that ‘we do not care for you’.”
It describes the event sanctioned by the BCCI as “draconian and prejudicial to the interests of the nation, the armed forces, and common citizens,” claiming that their rights are being severely compromised due to the BCCI’s decision to treat Pakistan sportingly as a friend amid ongoing violence perpetrated by Pakistani terrorists in the Kashmir Valley.
The petition is set to be heard by a bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Friday (September 12).
A tragic terrorist attack took place in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, On April 22, 2025, which claimed the lives of 28 people. The attackers, believed to be linked to The Resistance Front (TRF), a group associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba, targeted a group of tourists.
They separated men from women and children before shooting them at close range. The victims were chosen because they could not recite Islamic verses, and many were killed at restaurants and in wooded areas.