New Delhi: In a major embarrassment for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the organisers mistakenly played the Indian national anthem ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 clash between Australia and England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, February 22. The fans and Aussie players were taken by surprise when the Indian national anthem played after the two teams lined up for their respective national anthems.
The organisers were quick to realise their blunder and stopped the Indian national anthem. Australia’s national anthem – Advance Australia Fair was played later as normalcy was restored at the venue which was renovated recently ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. The fans and players were left shocked at the blunder as India are not supposed to play in Pakistan in the multi-nation tournament.
Watch national anthem blunder in Lahore ahead of Australia vs England:
Gaddafi Stadium Lahore main, Eng vs Aus ke match main sound wale ne Indian national anthem baja diya 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/0wHSrA7wuZ
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) February 22, 2025
India will play all their matches in Dubai after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the tournament. India hammered Bangladesh by six wickets in their opening game of the tournament at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on Thursday. India will next lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in a blockbuster clash on Sunday, February 23.
National Anthems of both teams are played before every match in an event hosted by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The two teams line up for their national anthems after the toss ahead of their match. This is not the first time controversy has erupted in the Champions Trophy 2025 as earlier India’s flag was missing at the Karachi National Stadium where flags of all other participating countries were hoisted.
India, Pakistan gear up for blockbuster clash
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are gearing up for the mother of all battles as they will lock horns in a blockbuster clash in Dubai on Sunday. India lost to Pakistan in the last meeting between the two sides in the final of the Champions Trophy 2017 and will be looking to avenge the defeat in the upcoming clash. While India are heading into the game on the back of a victory, Pakistan lost their opener against New Zealand.
In a major blunder, India’s national anthem was mistakenly played instead of the Australian national anthem ahead of the match between England and Australia at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 on Saturday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
