BCCI's Clear Message To Champions Trophy 2025 Host PCB Over Flag Row

The absence of the Indian flag at Karachi's National Stadium before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has sparked controversy. India will play all its matches in Dubai due to security concerns, as the BCCI decided against sending players across the border. The BCCI vice-president, Rajeev Shukla, expressed that India's flag should be displayed alongside other nations' flags.

With only two days remaining before the tournament begins in Pakistan, a video on social media revealed flags of all participating countries except India at the stadium. This incident has intensified tensions between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and BCCI over the event's venue. The PCB had to adopt a hybrid model where India plays in Dubai while Pakistan hosts.

ICC Guidelines and Promotional Content

During any ICC-hosted multi-nation tournament, displaying all participating nations' flags is mandatory. The promotional video for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 highlighted Pakistan and featured snapshots of all eight teams. Indian players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill appeared on billboards in Pakistan.

Some speculate this might be a PCB move against BCCI for not sending India to Pakistan. However, Rajeev Shukla stressed that India's flag should be among those of competing nations. "First, it should be confirmed that whether the Indian flag was there or not. If it wasn't there, then it should have been put," he stated during an event in Delhi.

PCB's Response and ICC's Role

The PCB shifted responsibility to the ICC regarding the flag issue, stating instructions came from their global headquarters. "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 sides competing on that day," a PCB official explained.

This means no Indian flag will appear at any of the three venues-Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi-hosting matches for the tournament. The decision aligns with ICC guidelines for match day displays.

India's Tournament Schedule

Placed in Group A, India's campaign kicks off against Bangladesh on February 20. They face arch-rivals Pakistan three days later in cricket's El Clasico. Their group stage concludes with a match against New Zealand on March 2.