Fact Check | Pakistan Cricket Board denies claims shared by Pak social media users about PCB removing Indian flag from cricket stadium ahead of Champions Trophy; details inside

New Delhi: A video recently circulated on social media, with some users claiming it showed the absence of the Indian Tricolour from the roof of the National Stadium in Karachi, just days ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Users alleged that while the flags of all other participating nations were displayed, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) deliberately removed the Indian flag after India refused to play tournament matches in Pakistan.

However, an investigation by the PTI Fact Check Desk found this claim false. A PCB source, speaking to PTI, confirmed that there was no controversy regarding the flags on the stadium’s roof. As per ICC guidelines, only four flags will be hoisted on match days during the Champions Trophy 2025 (CT25)—those of the ICC (Event Authority), the PCB (Event Host), and the two participating countries playing on that day. The source also clarified that the viral picture was taken before the CT25 Support Period had even started.

It is important to note that India will play all its Champions Trophy matches in Dubai after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to play in Pakistan due to security concerns. Both the PCB and the BCCI have agreed that India and Pakistan will play their matches at a neutral venue during tournaments hosted by each other.

Claim

On November 16, an X (formerly Twitter) user shared a video claiming it showed the Indian flag absent from the roof of the National Stadium in Karachi. The flags of all other nations participating in the ICC Champions Trophy and India's were present. Users claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board had carried out the purported move after India refused to play tournament matches in Pakistan.

"No Indian flag in Karachi: As only the Indian team faced security issues in Pakistan and refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan. The PCB removed the Indian flag from Karachi stadium while keeping the flags of the other guest-playing nations. Absolute Cinema, well done, Mohsin Naqvi," the user shared the video with the caption.

The Desk ran the viral video through the InVid tool and extracted multiple keyframes. Upon running one of the keyframes through Google Lens, the Desk found several other users sharing the same video with similar claims.

Two such posts can be seen here and here, with their archived versions available here and here, respectively.

In the next part of the investigation, to corroborate the claims made in the viral video, the Desk spoke to a PCB source, who dismissed the speculations surrounding the alleged controversy.

"There is nothing controversial about the flags on the roof of the stadium because, as per ICC guidelines, only four flags will be hoisted on match days during CT25—ICC (Event Authority), PCB (Event Host), and the two participating countries on that day," a PCB source said.

He added that the picture circulating on social media was from before the CT25 Support Period started.

"At that time, on February 11, the PCB was hosting a three-nation event, and the CT Support Period began on February 12," the PCB source remarked.

Additionally, as part of the investigation, the Desk carefully analysed the viral video and found a watermark of 'Mr_Hamxay_3' on it. Upon further investigation, we found an Instagram account with the same name.

Here is the link to the handle, along with a screenshot of the same:

As the Desk carefully examined the Instagram account, it came across a post made on February 14, 2025. The post featured the same viral video and shared a similar claim that the PCB had not included the Indian flag because the country refused to play in Pakistan during the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Here is the link to the post, along with a screenshot:

Below is a combination image showing that the video seen in the viral post is the same as the one shared by the Instagram handle.

Moreover, going further with the investigation, to corroborate whether the video was from the period before the CT25 Support Period began (as claimed by the PCB), the Desk contacted the user of the Instagram handle to verify if it was shot before February 12 or not. The story will be updated as and when a response is received.

Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the claim regarding the absence of the Indian flag at Karachi Stadium was false. 

CLAIM

The Indian flag is missing from the roof of the National Stadium in Karachi, just days before the commencement of the ICC Champions Trophy.

FACT

In its investigation, the Desk found the post to be misleading.

CONCLUSION

Multiple social media users recently circulated a video claiming it showed the absence of the Indian flag from the roof of the National Stadium in Karachi just days before the commencement of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. However, the PCB, in conversation with the PTI, clarified that this decision came directly from the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has instructed that only four flags—the ICC’s, PCB’s, and those of the two teams playing on the day—be displayed during match days.

This story was originally published by PTI Fact Check, and republished by Deccan Herald as part of the Shakti Collective.