No Indian flag in Gaddafi Stadium; fans call it PCB's reply to BCCI's refusal to play Champions Trophy in Pakistan

Ahead of Champions Trophy, the flags of seven teams, including that of Pakistan, was seen at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, but the Indian flag was missing.

The Champions Trophy is all set to return after a gap of eight years with Pakistan having won the last edition in 2017. Incidentally, the defending champions are the host nation, and they are ready to welcome seven other sides for the eight-team ICC tournament, which will begin on Wednesday. Ahead of the event, the flags of seven teams, including that of Pakistan, were seen at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, but the Indian flag was missing.

India captain Rohit Sharma and Pakistan's Babar Azam

During an event at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, fans noticed that the Indian tri-colour was missing. At the same time, the flags of all seven participating teams of the Champions Trophy were hoisted. The video of the same instantly went viral on social media.

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.

Champions Trophy to begin on February 19

The ICC tournament is all set to kick off on February 19, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi. India will open their campaign on Thursday against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium, before the proceedings head to the weekend for the mouthwatering clash between the two arch-rivals.

The aforementioned four teams form Group A of Champions Trophy 2025. Group A comprises Australia, South Africa, England and Afghanistan. Group A campaign will begin on Friday, with the Rashid Khan-led side taking on South Africa in Karachi.