A social media controversy was triggered after a video of Karachi’s Nationwide Stadium surfaced, exhibiting flags of collaborating nations enjoying within the upcoming ICC Champion’s Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan from February 19. The video exhibits that the Indian flag was purportedly not hoisted on the stadium, stirring up controversy and heated debate, criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for venting out its anger in opposition to India for refusing to play Champions Trophy matches within the nation. Whereas social media is buzzing with followers criticising Pakistan’s refusal to boost the Indian flag at its stadiums, the PCB has downplayed the controversy, saying the flags of the nations who’re enjoying in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have solely been raised on the stadiums.
“As , India is just not coming to Pakistan to play its matches in the course of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025; the Nationwide Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore have hoisted flags of nations which can be going to play on the mentioned venues,” mentioned a PCB supply to IANS.
When requested why the Indian, Bangladesh and different collaborating nations’ flags weren’t there on the Karachi and Lahore stadiums, the supply mentioned, “The Indian staff goes to play its matches in Dubai. Secondly, the Bangladesh staff has not but arrived in Pakistan and will likely be enjoying its first match in opposition to India in Dubai. Due to this fact, their flags haven’t been hoisted and the opposite nations, who’ve arrived right here and will likely be enjoying in Pakistan… their flags are there on the stadium.”
No Indian flag in Karachi: As solely the Indian staff confronted safety points in Pakistan and refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, the PCB eliminated the Indian flag from the Karachi stadium whereas conserving the flags of the opposite visitor enjoying nations. pic.twitter.com/rjM9LcWQXs
— Arsalan (@Arslan1245) February 16, 2025
The supply added that PCB doesn’t want to provide out an official assertion on the matter as it’s associated to a social media video with an ill-intended agenda.
“I do not suppose PCB must even give an official assertion on this. It is clear that the controversy is made with out information and goals to wreck host Pakistan’s picture with pretend information,” the supply mentioned.
“Totally different stadiums in Pakistan are going to host completely different groups in the course of the Champions Trophy matches. They usually’re hoisting their flags to welcome them”, it added.
It’s pertinent to notice that the BCCI refused to play in Pakistan resulting from safety considerations and political tensions between the 2 nations, forcing the ICC to implement a hybrid mannequin, through which India will likely be enjoying all of its Champions Trophy matches in Dubai.
The supply additionally said that cities in Pakistan, together with Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, the place the Champions Trophy matches will likely be going down, have gotten banners up on the primary streets and highways, exhibiting captains of all collaborating nations, together with India, insisting that the PCB doesn’t have any intention to let its political rivalry affect a significant ICC occasion within the nation.
Champion Trophy is returning after a hiatus of eight years. Pakistan are the defending champion and the nation is waiting for the occasion’s success, as they’re internet hosting the ICC occasion for the primary time since they co-hosted the 1996 World Cup.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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