The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has addressed the controversy surrounding the absence of the Indian flag at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Speculation began swirling after a video surfaced on social media, showing the flags of all participating teams except India being hoisted at the venue.
This sparked debate, with many assuming that the PCB had intentionally excluded the Indian flag in response to India’s decision to play its Champions Trophy matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) instead of Pakistan.
However, according to media reports, the PCB has clarified that the omission was not intentional but rather a directive from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
A PCB spokesperson explained that the ICC has instructed all venues to display only four flags on match days: those of the ICC, the PCB, and the two teams playing that day.
“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 competing teams. It’s as simple as that,” the spokesperson stated.
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“Since India will not be playing any matches in Pakistan, their flag will not be displayed at any of the three venues — Karachi, Lahore, or Rawalpindi — during the tournament,” he added.
It’s worth noting that the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.
The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.
In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host tournament play. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final.
Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.
The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.
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