The current Champions Trophy 2025 has been tainted with controversy after a fan was reportedly ejected from Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for having an Indian flag. A video on social media indicates security officials forcefully removing the fan, along with seizing the flag. It is reported that this happened during the Australia vs. England match on February 22.
The video that went viral states that he was beaten and detained by security staff, but official confirmation of the actions of the security staff is not yet given. There has been no word from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on the issue so far, nor is there any information available about the identity of the man.
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Some think he might be an Indian fan, while others wonder if he might be a Pakistani supporter of the Indian team. At the same time, Pakistan’s Champions Trophy campaign has been nothing short of a disappointment. The Mohammad Rizwan side is placed last in Group A after back-to-back losses to New Zealand and India.
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Their match against Bangladesh tomorrow is inconsequential, as both sides have already been knocked out of the competition. This premature exit is another blow to Pakistan cricket, emphasizing their inability to perform in big ICC events. Although they made it to the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup, they did not make it to the knockout phase in the 2023 ODI World Cup or the 2024 T20 World Cup.
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Their sudden Champions Trophy exit now further raises questions about the consistency and performance of the team at the top level. With unanswered questions surrounding the security breach, Pakistan’s cricketing troubles persist, and fans and pundits alike are left wondering what needs to change to get things back on track.
