The scene is seen by many favoured by social media. Videos circulating on X, Instagram and Facebook yesterday showed the flags of seven of the eight teams in this year’s Champions Trophy at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Not just the Indian flag.
The question then arises, did the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deliberately not put up the flag of India? There was also a storm of discussion on social media. The PCB has explained it today.
According to some media reports in Pakistan, it was not a planned move by the PCB; Rather, this is due to the instructions of the ICC.
According to the ICC’s instructions, only four flags will be hoisted during the Champions Trophy match – ICC, PCB and two teams participating in that day’s match. Since the Indian team will not play any match in Pakistan, the Indian flag will not fly in the three venues of Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
“The ICC has directed that only four flags will be flown during the 2025 Champions Trophy – the ICC, the PCB and the two teams participating in the day’s match. The point is quite clear. ’
The Champions Trophy starts tomorrow. New Zealand will face hosts and defending champions Pakistan in the opening match at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
Pakistan and New Zealand are in Group A along with Bangladesh and India. Group B has Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa.