Champions Trophy 2025: India Flag Spotted At Karachi Stadium Following Backlash Ahead Of PAK vs NZ Clash, Pic Goes Viral

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to begin on February 19, with Pakistan hosting New Zealand in the tournament opener at Karachi's National Stadium. However, in the lead-up to the tournament, a major controversy erupted over the absence of the Indian flag at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, which led to a backlash from Indian fans.

Now, just ahead of the tournament's first match, images of the Indian tricolour at Karachi's National Stadium have surfaced, reigniting discussions over the issue.

A few days ago, a viral video from Gaddafi Stadium showed that while the flags of all participating nations were displayed, India's flag was conspicuously missing. This omission sparked outrage among the Indian cricket faithful and cricket fans, with many alleging that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had intentionally left it out. However, PCB officials later clarified that the move was in line with an International Cricket Council (ICC) directive, stating as per Hindustan Times, "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."

Despite India opting to play all its matches in Dubai due to ongoing political tensions, the sudden appearance of the Indian flag at Karachi's stadium has caught the attention of fans and media alike. The move is seen as a response to the earlier controversy, potentially aimed at avoiding further criticism.

Both the countries have not engaged in bilateral cricket on each other's soil since 2008, with matches between the two teams being limited to ICC events and multinational tournaments. While Pakistan have traveled to India for select ICC tournaments, including the 2011 ODI World Cup semifinal, 2016 T20 World Cup, and 2023 ODI World Cup, the Men in Blue have refrained from visiting Pakistan due to security concerns and strained diplomatic relations.

Looking ahead, India are set to host the ICC Women's ODI World Cup in 2025, raising questions about whether Pakistan's women's team will travel to participate. As the Champions Trophy gets underway, all eyes remain on the cricketing action, but the political undertones continue to be a major talking point in the buildup to the tournament.