PCB has dismissed the allegations, clarifying that only flags of teams playing matches in Pakistan have been hoisted at respective venues.
India Flag at Pakistan Stadiums Ahead of ICC Champions Trophy Latest News: A controversy erupted on social media after a video from Karachi's National Stadium surfaced, showing flags of nations participating in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025—except for India. The video led to heated discussions, with many accusing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of deliberately omitting the Indian flag due to political tensions.
However, the PCB has dismissed the allegations, clarifying that only the flags of teams playing matches in Pakistan have been hoisted at the respective venues.
"As you know, India will not be playing its matches in Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The flags at Karachi’s National Stadium, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium represent only those teams competing at these venues," a PCB source told IANS.
The source further explained that India's matches will take place in Dubai under the hybrid model adopted by the ICC due to security concerns raised by the BCCI. Similarly, Bangladesh’s flag was not displayed as their matches are also set to be played in Dubai.
The PCB source downplayed the controversy, stating that an official response was unnecessary. "This is a social media debate based on misinformation. Different venues in Pakistan are hosting different teams, and their respective flags have been displayed accordingly," the source added.
Despite the controversy, the PCB highlighted that banners featuring all participating team captains, including India’s, have been put up across major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
The ICC Champions Trophy, returning after an eight-year gap, marks a significant moment for Pakistan, as they prepare to host an ICC event for the first time since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup. The PCB remains focused on ensuring the tournament’s success and believes political issues should not overshadow the prestigious event.
