ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PCB reveals reason behind absence of Indian flag in Pakistan stadiums

Recently, a controversy emerged after it was found that there was no Indian flag at the National Stadium in Karachi ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finally opened up on the issue and revealed the reason behind it.

The absence of the Indian flag in the stadium led to a heated debate regarding Pakistan's stance. The users on social media blamed the PCB for showing their anger at the BCCI for not sending Team India to Pakistan.

The video of the hoisting of flags went viral on social media. In the video, it can be clearly seen that the flags of most of the participating nations are present but the Indian flag is yet to be hoisted.

Also read: Kane Williamson officially joins new teams ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Watch: No Indian flag in Karachi for Champions Trophy 2025

No Indian flag in Karachi: As only the Indian team faced security issues in Pakistan and refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, the PCB removed the Indian flag from the Karachi stadium while keeping the flags of the other guest playing nations. pic.twitter.com/rjM9LcWQXs

— Arsalan (@Arslan1245) February 16, 2025

PCB responds to the absence of the Indian flag in Karachi

While speaking to IANS, an undisclosed PCB source claimed that the Indian flag was not hoisted as the Men in Blue are not traveling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The source made it clear that only the flags of those countries will be hoisted in the stadiums that will play their matches in Pakistan.

"As you know, India is not coming to Pakistan to play its matches during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025; the National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium ,and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore have hoisted flags of countries that are going to play at the said venues," the source said.

The PCB source said that the board shouldn't deliver and official statement on this issue as he believes that it is related only to social media and can damage the board's image with wrong facts.

“I don't think PCB needs to even give an official statement on this. It's clear that the controversy is made without facts and aims to damage host Pakistan's image with fake news," the source said.

Apart from the Indian flag, Bangladesh's flag is also missing currently. The source claimed that Bangladesh is yet to arrive in Pakistan since their first game is in Dubai against India. Their flag will be hoisted once they arrive in Pakistan.

"The Indian team is going to play its matches in Dubai. Secondly, the Bangladesh team has not yet arrived in Pakistan and will be playing its first match against India in Dubai. Therefore, their flags have not been hoisted and the other nations, who have arrived here and will be playing in Pakistan, their flags are there at the stadium," the source added.

Bangladesh will open their Champions Trophy campaign against India on February 20 in Dubai. They will then travel to Rawalpindi for their second match of the tournament where they will face New Zealand on February 24.

Why is the tournament being played in the hybrid model?

The Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in three venues of Pakistan - Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. However, India will play all their matches in Dubai after the BCCI refused to send the team due to security issues.

It forced the ICC to allow the tournament to be hosted in a hybrid model. While all the teams will play in Pakistan, India's matches will be played in Dubai. Even if India qualify for the knockout stages, they will continue to play in Dubai.

The Champions Trophy 2025 is the first ICC tournament in Pakistan in 29 years. Pakistan last hosted an ICC event way back in 1996 during the ODI World Cup.