A social media controversy was triggered after a video of Karachi's National Stadium surfaced, showing flags of participating nations playing in the upcoming ICC Champion's Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan from February 19.
The video shows that the Indian flag was purportedly not hoisted at the stadium, stirring up controversy and heated debate, criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for venting out its anger against India for refusing to play Champions Trophy matches in the country.
While social media is buzzing with fans criticising Pakistan's refusal to raise the Indian flag at its stadiums, the PCB has downplayed the controversy, saying the flags of the countries who are playing in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have only been raised at the stadiums.
"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," said a PCB source.
When asked why the Indian, Bangladesh and other participating countries' flags were not there at the Karachi and Lahore stadiums, the source said, "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."