Indian National Anthem at ENG vs AUS Champions Trophy in Pakistan | Mistakenly Played Before the Match

IND National Anthem Mistakenly Played Before AUS vs ENG Match

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) found itself in an embarrassing situation during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 when the Indian National Anthem was mistakenly played before the start of the Australia (AUS) vs England (ENG) match at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. As the Australian team lined up for their national anthem, the stadium was taken aback when the unmistakable tune of India's anthem began playing instead.

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

The incident occurred immediately after the England national anthem had concluded. The cameras had already panned to the Australian flag when the opening words, “Bhagya Vidhaata,” echoed through the stadium. Within seconds, the anthem was cut off, but the damage was done. The video of the mishap quickly went viral, sparking reactions across social media, with many cricket fans calling it an embarrassing oversight for PCB.

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 commenced earlier this week, featuring top teams battling for glory. Three matches have already taken place, and this weekend promises high-voltage clashes. The AUS vs ENG match in Lahore was one of the major fixtures before the much-anticipated India (IND) vs Pakistan (PAK) showdown in Dubai on Sunday.

This anthem mix-up wasn't the first controversy of the tournament. Earlier, India’s national flag was missing from the roof of the National Stadium in Karachi, raising eyebrows among cricket fans. PCB later clarified that the directive came from the ICC, which mandated the use of only four flags on match days. However, during the opening match between PAK and New Zealand (NZ), the Indian flag was reinstated at the stadium, resolving the issue temporarily.

In terms of match action, AUS won the toss and opted to bowl first. Captain Steve Smith expressed confidence in his decision, citing potential dew as a factor that could aid their chase later in the innings. "Looks like a pretty good surface. There was a bit of dew when we were practicing, so we’d like to chase later on," Smith remarked at the toss.

On the other hand, ENG’s captain, Jos Buttler, acknowledged that his team was uncertain about the impact of dew. "We probably would have batted first. We were a bit 50-50 on whether the dew would come in or not. But it looks like a really good surface, so we’ll try to make good first use of it," he said.

Both AUS and ENG are seeking redemption in the 50-over format. ENG recently suffered an ODI series defeat against IND, while AUS faced a setback against Sri Lanka (SL). Adding to the historical significance, this is the first time ENG has played an ODI match in PAK since December 2005, marking a return after nearly two decades.

AUS has struggled in the Champions Trophy in recent editions, failing to secure a win in the last two tournaments. This match against ENG presents an opportunity for them to change their fortunes and gain momentum in the competition.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will now shift to the IND vs PAK clash, a fixture that always garners global attention. With emotions running high and controversies already making headlines, the Champions Trophy 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable event.