ICC Champions Trophy Blunder: Indian National Anthem Played By Mistake Before Australia vs England Match In Lahore, Netizens Trolled PCB

February 22, 2025: At the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, an unexpected mix-up occurred during the ICC Champions Trophy match between Australia and England, leading to the Indian national anthem being mistakenly played for a few seconds. The anthem's portion, "Bhaarat Bhaagya Vidhaata," was heard briefly before the organizers realized the error and quickly halted the anthem.

This gaffe triggered a flurry of reactions on social media, including humorous memes, with some even criticizing the organizers for the blunder. The mix-up came as a surprise to the crowd, particularly since India was not even in Pakistan for their Champions Trophy fixtures. India was playing all its matches in Dubai under the hybrid model, with their upcoming match against arch-rivals Pakistan set to take place at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in the Australia-England clash, Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first against England. The match between these Ashes rivals was a highly anticipated encounter, with both teams looking to gain momentum. England arrived in Lahore after a 3-0 ODI series loss to India, while Australia had faced a defeat in Sri Lanka in the lead-up to the event, missing their star pace trio—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.

The spotlight now turns to the upcoming India-Pakistan showdown, which holds significant stakes for both teams. Pakistan will look to keep their title defense alive, while India aims to almost secure a spot in the semifinals. The match also presents India with an opportunity to avenge their loss in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where they were defeated by Pakistan.

In the Champions Trophy, Pakistan leads India 3-2, with the 180-run triumph in the 2017 final standing out as a memorable encounter. The anticipation surrounding Sunday's match has fans eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling contest.