Lahore, February 22, 2025: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has come under fire following a series of technical errors during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with the latest blunder occurring during the Australia-England match in Lahore on Saturday.
Just before the match, India’s national anthem was mistakenly played instead of Australia’s, catching players and spectators off guard. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly sought clarification from the ICC regarding the error.
According to sources, the anthem playlist for the tournament was compiled by the ICC and included the anthems of all participating teams. Despite India not playing any matches in Pakistan, their anthem was inadvertently played before the Australia-England fixture.
“The PCB has formally contacted the ICC, demanding an explanation,” a source said. “This is not just about Pakistan—everyone deserves an answer for such a mistake.”
The ICC has yet to issue an official statement addressing the incident, which has sparked criticism over the governing body’s management of tournament operations.
This is not the first technical blunder in the tournament as two days earlier, during the India vs. Bangladesh match in Dubai, the official tournament logo displayed on the broadcast omitted Pakistan’s name as the host nation, fueling speculation and backlash.
An ICC spokesperson later clarified that the omission was due to a “graphics-related technical glitch.” The official assured that future broadcasts from Dubai would include Pakistan’s name in the tournament logo. “The omission was due to a technical issue, which will be rectified from tomorrow. It was not possible to change the logo during the match,” the spokesperson added.
India had previously refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, citing government directives, and is playing all its matches in Dubai. They began their Group A campaign with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh.
The repeated technical mishaps have raised concerns about the ICC’s efficiency in managing tournament logistics. Critics argue that such errors, particularly those related to national anthems and official branding, undermine the credibility of the event.
With the PCB demanding answers and fans expressing frustration, the ICC is under pressure to address these recurring issues and ensure smoother operations for the remainder of the Champions Trophy.
