Delhi High Court Dismisses Petition to Ban Bangladesh from Cricket

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking to ban Bangladesh from international cricket, ruling that the matter falls under foreign policy and outside judicial jurisdiction.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Kariya, questioned the admissibility of the case immediately as the hearing began. The bench noted that decisions regarding international sports and relations with foreign states are the exclusive purview of the executive branch of the government.

Judicial Observations The court observed that it does not have the authority to issue directions to foreign governments or international sports bodies. The judges further remarked that such petitions result in a "waste of the court's time."

Chief Justice Upadhyay clarified that writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution does not apply to foreign governments or international cricket boards. "These matters are fundamentally linked to foreign policy and international relations," the bench stated.

BCCI Response Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, representing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), argued that including foreign cricket boards in the petition lacked any legal basis.

Following the court’s strong objections, the petitioner requested to withdraw the plea. The court subsequently allowed the withdrawal and dismissed the case.