Champions Trophy 2025: PCB Explains Why Pakistan Stadiums Aren't Hoisting Indian Flags

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered an explanation for the absence of the Indian flag at the National Stadium in Karachi ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19 (Wednesday). 

In a video that has gone viral, flags of all participating countries, except India's, were displayed on the stadium's roof in Karachi. Mind you, India refused to travel to Pakistan for the 50-over event and are playing all their fixtures, including the knockouts if they qualify, in Dubai.

According to the Hindustan Times, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has directed that only four flags be hoisted on match days. 

"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 sides competing on that day. Simple," a PCB spokesperson told Hindustan Times.

Speaking to IANS, another PCB source said: "As you know, India is not coming to Pakistan to play its matches during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025; the National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore have hoisted flags of countries that are going to play at the said venues.”

India will start their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23. India’s last group game will be against New Zealand on March 2.