February 23, 2025: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought an official clarification from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the Indian national anthem was mistakenly played during the Champions Trophy match between Australia and England at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

The blunder occurred on Saturday when, after England’s anthem, India’s Jana Gana Mana was played instead of Australia’s Advance Australia Fair. Although the Indian anthem lasted only about two seconds before being stopped, the mistake quickly gained attention on social media.

A report from ESPNcricinfo states that the PCB has blamed the ICC for the error and formally requested an explanation. The incident left both Australian players and spectators momentarily confused before the correct anthem was played at the newly renovated stadium.

The mix-up was particularly unusual as India is not scheduled to play any matches in Lahore. Due to security and political concerns, the Indian team opted out of traveling to Pakistan, resulting in a hybrid tournament model where all of India’s matches are being played in Dubai.

This is not the first time the PCB has raised concerns with the ICC during this tournament. On February 20, the board questioned why Pakistan’s name was omitted from the official broadcast during India's match against Bangladesh. Earlier, the PCB and ICC faced criticism for not displaying India’s flag at Karachi’s National Stadium, further adding to the tensions surrounding the tournament.

The Champions Trophy schedule itself was initially delayed due to India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, leading to prolonged negotiations. The issue was resolved after Jay Shah took over as ICC chief in December 2024, with the hybrid model being finalized. The same approach will also be used for upcoming ICC events, including the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.

As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen how the ICC will respond to the PCB’s concerns over the anthem controversy.