As the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 gains momentum after the first round of matches, off-field controversies and administrative blunders have taken center stage.
From anthem mix-ups to broadcast issues and flag controversies, the tournament has been overshadowed by multiple embarrassing incidents.
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National anthem gaffe in Lahore
In a major embarrassment for the tournament organisers, the Indian national anthem was mistakenly played before the start of the England-Australia league match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The anthem was heard for a few seconds after England’s “God Save the King”, disrupting the usual sequence of pre-match ceremonies. The Australian anthem was then played as scheduled.
The ICC and PCB attributed the blunder to an event management agency responsible for handling match-day proceedings. However, the mistake was widely criticised on social media, with fans and experts questioning the professionalism of the organisers.
PCB's complaint over missing 'Pakistan' watermark
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the ICC were also at odds over a technical issue during the broadcast of the India-Bangladesh game. The PCB raised concerns about the absence of 'Pakistan' in the watermark branding on the live feed, an anomaly not seen in any other matches.
After PCB's protest, the ICC acknowledged the error and agreed to restore the three-line branding format that includes 'Pakistan' in all subsequent broadcasts. The tournament's production team, Sunset+Vine, cited a formatting issue and promised to rectify it from the next match onward.
Flag controversy at Karachi's National Stadium
The Champions Trophy's off-field troubles began even before the first ball was bowled, as a social media controversy erupted over the alleged absence of the Indian flag at Karachi's National Stadium. A video circulating online showed the flags of various participating nations, but India's flag was notably missing, sparking accusations that the PCB was deliberately excluding.
The PCB quickly dismissed these claims, clarifying that flags were only hoisted for teams playing in Pakistan. Since India's matches were scheduled in Dubai due to political tensions, PCB officials defended their decision to not display the Indian flag at Karachi and Lahore stadiums.
However, the Indian flag appeared on the match day along with all other participating nations' flags when Pakistan hosted New Zealand for the opening match in Karachi.
While on-field battles continue, the tournament's credibility has taken a hit due to repeated administrative lapses. Organisers now face the challenge of ensuring a smoother run for the remaining matches to shift the focus back to the game.
