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PCB officials clarified that Indian flags were absent from Pakistani stadiums because India will play its 2025 Champions Trophy matches in the UAE. Flags are for teams playing in Pakistan.
Flags at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium as PCB head Mohsin Naqvi spoke at Champions Trophy curtain riaser (X and Youtube)
Some Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials have explained the reasons behind the controversial absence of Indian flags from Pakistani stadiums ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
They said that stadiums only hoisted flags of countries who were playing their matches in Pakistan and had arrived by the time the video of the stadiums had started to go viral on social media.
These videos showed the flags of seven countries at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, with only India’s missing. Although Pakistan is the official host for the tournament, India’s matches will be played in the UAE, as per a hybrid model arrangement reached by the BCCI, the PCB and the ICC after the Indian board refused to travel to the neighboring country due to security reasons.
“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 in Lahore have hoisted flags of countries that are going to play at the said venues,” news agency IANS quoted a PCB source as saying.
Some videos of other grounds also didn’t have Bangladeshi fans, causing further stir.
“The Indian team is going to play its matches in Dubai. Secondly, the Bangladesh team has not yet arrived in Pakistan and will be playing its first match against India in Dubai. Therefore, their flags have not been hoisted and the other nations, who have arrived here and will be playing in Pakistan… their flags are there at the stadium,” the reported source added.
“I don’t think PCB needs to even give an official statement on this. It’s clear that the controversy is made without facts and aims to damage host Pakistan’s image with fake news,” the source said. Different stadiums in Pakistan are going to host different teams during the Champions Trophy matches. And they’re hoisting their flags to welcome them”, it added.
The report added that the source also stated that Pakistan cities Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, where the Champions Trophy matches will be taking place, have got banners up the streets, showing captains of all participating nations, including India.
