The 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy is all set to get underway with the Pakistan versus New Zealand clash in Karachi on February 19.
BCCI has refused to send its team to Pakistan due to security concerns and political tensions between the two countries, forcing the ICC to adopt a hybrid model, in which India will be playing all of their matches in Dubai.
Despite the Rohit Sharma-led side not travelling across the border, the Indian tricolor was spotted in Karachi’s National Stadium on the eve of the tournament opener. In several pictures doing rounds on social media, the Indian flag can be seen at the venue.
Notably, a controversy erupted two days ago after a video of the National Stadium went viral on the internet, showing flags of participating teams featuring in the Champions Trophy.
The clip showed that the Indian flag was purportedly not hoisted at the venue, triggering massive debate with many criticizing the PCB for venting out its frustration against India for refusing to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy matches.
The news of the Indian flag in Pakistan is making headlines because, in a video that went viral a couple of days ago, the flags of all participating nations except India were showcased on one of the roofs of Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Amid the outrage, the Pakistan board provided a clarification, saying that it was an ICC directive.
“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 official had told Hindustan Times.
The cricketing ties between India and Pakistan have been fraught with political and security issues since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
While the arch-rivals last played a limited-overs series in 2012, their last meeting in the Test format was way back in 2007. In this period, they've only clashed in multi-nation tournaments such as the World Cup and the Asia Cup.
Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in 2023 but India played all of their matches in Sri Lanka under the hybrid model.
