Controversy erupts after India flag is missing on roof of National Stadium in Karachi
A video has surfaced on social media that allegedly shows the Indian Tricolour missing from the roof of the National Stadium in Karachi while flags of all other nations that will participate in the ICC Champions Trophy are present.
The clip caused some anger on social media. The Pakan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly explained why the Indian flag was not seen at the National Stadium in Karachi ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. “The ICC has advised that only four flags will be hoed on Champions Trophy 2025 match days – ICC (Event Authority), PCB (Event Host) and the two sides competing on that day. Simple,” an unnamed PCB spokesperson told multiple Indian media organisations which did not name the person.
No Indian flag in Karachi: As only the Indian team faced security issues in Pakan and refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakan, the PCB removed the Indian flag from the Karachi stadium while keeping the flags of the other guest playing nations.
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News agency IANS meanwhile quoted a PCB source as saying: “As you know, India is not coming to Pakan to play its matches during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025; the National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore have hoed flags of countries that are going to play at the said venues.”
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Screengrab from a clip on social media showing flags of the participating nations at the ICC Champions Trophy on the National Stadium in Karachi. (Screenshot: X)
The Men in Blue will not be travelling to Pakan for the Champions Trophy and will play all its matches in UAE. India will take on Bangladesh in the first game of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and will play Pakan on Sunday.
India and Pakan are joined in Group A New Zealand and Bangladesh for the Champions Trophy. The tournament starts on February 19 with the opening match between hosts Pakan and New Zealand.
