A petition has been filed in the Indian Supreme Court seeking a ban on the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 cricket match between India and Pakistan, scheduled for September 14 in the UAE. The petition, filed by social activist Ketan Tirodkar from Pune, argues that the match should not proceed due to the current tensions and a perceived “war-like situation” between the two nations. It further contends that holding such a sporting event violates Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty for citizens. The court is set to hear the petition on September 12.
This legal challenge stands in contrast to the official stance of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has clarified that India’s participation in international events is strictly aligned with government policy. He emphasized that while bilateral series with Pakistan are suspended, it is not feasible for India to refuse participation in multi-nation tournaments involving multiple countries, as per the current government directives.
Saikia explained that for countries with which India has strained diplomatic relations, the BCCI strictly adheres to the central government’s guidelines. He warned that refusing to play a specific nation in a multinational event could lead to severe international sporting sanctions from bodies like the ICC, which would harm Indian players and the nation’s standing in global sports. Therefore, India will continue to play all scheduled matches, including against Pakistan, in ICC and other multi-nation events like the Asia Cup.
The upcoming match marks the first encounter between the two cricketing rivals since their clash in May. The BCCI’s position indicates that the highly anticipated game is expected to proceed as planned, despite the petition, as it falls under the umbrella of a multilateral tournament and follows established government policy.
