Just one day before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 starts, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has replied to worries about the lack of the Indian flag at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.
The dispute started when a video surfaced on social media displaying the flags of every participating country, except India, raised at the stadium. Thus, this sparked rumors that the PCB had purposefully omitted India’s flag in payback for India’s choice not to host games in Pakistan.
But according to media sources, the PCB emphasized that the International Cricket Council (ICC) directed the exclusion rather than it being intentional.
Therefore, the board claims that just four flags—those of the ICC, the PCB, and the two teams scheduled for that day—should be shown on match days.
India’s flag won’t be flown at any of the three venues—Karachi, Lahore, or Rawalpindi—because it isn’t playing any matches in Pakistan.
Official Statement
“The ICC has advised that only four flags will be hoisted on Champions Trophy 2025 match days: ICC ( Event Authority), PCB ( Event Host), and the two sides competing on that day,” a PCB spokesman said. It’s easy.
It is relevant to note that the Champions Trophy 2025 will start tomorrow following a curtain-raiser match between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi and the defending champions.
India is in Group A for the competition alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh.
Champions Trophy Schedule:
- 19 February, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan
- 20 February, Bangladesh v India, Dubai
- 21 February, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan
- 22 February, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan
- 23 February, Pakistan v India, Dubai
- 24 February, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 26 February, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan
- 27 February, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- 28 February, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan
- 1 March, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan
- 2 March, New Zealand v India, Dubai
- 4 March, Semi-final 1, Dubai
- 5 March, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan
- 9 March, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)
- 10 March, Reserve day
