Just a day before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 begins, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has addressed concerns over the absence of the Indian flag at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium, which sparked widespread debate on social media.
The issue arose after a video surfaced online showing the flags of all participating teams, except India, hoisted at the venue following the opening ceremony. This led to speculation that the PCB had intentionally omitted India’s flag in response to the BCCI’s decision to have India play all its matches in Dubai instead of Pakistan, due to political tensions.
However, PCB officials have now dismissed the controversy, stating that the decision was not theirs but rather a directive from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to clarify the situation.
According to the PCB, the ICC’s protocol for match-day operations dictates that only four flags are to be displayed at the stadium: the ICC’s flag (as the event’s governing body), the PCB’s flag (as the host board), and the flags of the two teams playing on that day. Since India will not be playing any of its fixtures in Pakistan, the Indian flag will not be displayed at any of the three tournament venues—Karachi, Lahore, or Rawalpindi, as per ICC’s protocol.
A PCB spokesperson addressed the controversy, stating, “The ICC has a clear policy that only four flags are to be hoisted on match days: those of the ICC, PCB, and the two competing teams. It’s as simple as that.”
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to commence tomorrow, with defending champions and hosts, Pakistan, taking on New Zealand in the opening clash in Karachi. India, placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, will play all its matches in Dubai, following the BCCI’s refusal to send the team to Pakistan due to government directives, citing security concerns.
The off-field controversies, from the BCCI’s refusal to send their team to Pakistan to the Indian flag not being displayed at the venues, are expected to add extra spice ahead of the highly anticipated Pakistan vs India fixture on February 23rd. With the eyes of the world now firmly fixed on Pakistan, the global audience can look forward to the thrilling action, both on and off the field, set to begin tomorrow.
