No Indian flag at Gaddafi Stadium; fans see it as PCB’s response to BCCI’s refusal to participate in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan

As preparations for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy gain momentum, a notable omission at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has sparked discussions among cricket fans. The stadium prominently displayed the flags of seven participating teams, including host nation Pakistan, but conspicuously left out the Indian flag.

This development comes amid ongoing tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding India’s participation in the tournament. The BCCI has yet to confirm whether the Indian team will travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, citing security concerns and diplomatic relations between the two nations.

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Champions Trophy Returns After 8 Years: Pakistan Set to Host, But Indian Flag Missing at Gaddafi Stadium

The Champions Trophy is making a comeback after eight years, with Pakistan—the winner of the last edition in 2017—hosting the tournament. As the defending champions, Pakistan will welcome seven other teams for the eight-team ICC event, scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

In the lead-up to the tournament, organizers raised the flags of seven participating nations at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, but the Indian flag was noticeably absent.

During an event at the stadium on Sunday, fans quickly noticed that organizers had not displayed the Indian tri-color, while they prominently showcased the flags of the remaining seven teams. A video of the incident soon surfaced online, going viral on social media and sparking widespread discussion.

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PCB’s Response to BCCI? Fans Link Missing Indian Flag to Hybrid Model Decision

Fans speculated that it was the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) response to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy after they did not get clearance from their government. Upon agreeing with the ICC after months of back-and-forth discussion between the two boards, which went to the extent of PCB threatening to withdraw from the tournament, India decided to play their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai as part of a hybrid model. This implies that the venue for knockout stage matches and the final will only be confirmed if India make the distance.

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