Champion's Trophy: Flags of 7 Teams Seen at Gaddafi Stadium – But Where’s India’s?

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The much-anticipated return of the Champions Trophy is just around the corner, set to begin on February 19, with Pakistan, the defending champions, ready to host the eight-team ICC tournament. The event is poised to see the return of the tournament after eight years, with Pakistan welcoming seven other sides for the competition. However, ahead of the tournament, the flags of the seven participating teams, including Pakistan's, were displayed at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, but notably, the Indian flag was absent. This sparked immediate speculation among fans. Many believe the absence of the Indian flag is a response by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision not to send the Indian team to Pakistan due to lack of clearance from the Indian government.

After several months of discussions and tensions, both the ICC and the two boards agreed on a hybrid model, which will see India playing its Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, with the venue for the knockout stages and final to be determined based on India’s progress in the tournament. Pakistan will kick off the tournament with a match against New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi on February 19, while India will open their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai the following day. The groups are set, with Group A featuring Pakistan, New Zealand, India and Bangladesh, and Group B comprising Australia, South Africa, England and Afghanistan. The group stages promise exciting matches, including a highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan, which will take place over the weekend. As the tournament prepares to begin, the absence of India’s flag at Gaddafi Stadium has become a point of conversation, fueling ongoing debates regarding the India-Pakistan cricketing rivalry.