Sun Feb 23 08:07:13 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan Demands Explanation From ICC After India’s Anthem Played at Australia-England Match
**LAHORE, PAKISTAN** – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is demanding answers from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after India’s national anthem was mistakenly played for a brief moment at the start of the Australia-England Champions Trophy match in Lahore on Saturday. The incident occurred as the two teams lined up for their respective anthems, with India’s anthem briefly replacing Australia’s before being corrected.
A source close to the ICC confirmed that the PCB has formally complained, stating that the ICC, responsible for managing the anthem playlist, needs to provide a clear explanation for the error. The PCB highlighted the unusual nature of the mistake, given that India is not playing matches in Pakistan due to security concerns and is instead competing in Dubai.
This is not the first complaint the PCB has lodged with the ICC during the Champions Trophy. Earlier this week, the PCB also contacted the ICC regarding the absence of the PCB logo on television screens during India’s match against Bangladesh in Dubai. The ICC subsequently assured the PCB that this was a mistake and corrected the issue.
The gaffe comes ahead of the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match on Sunday, a crucial encounter with elimination stakes for Pakistan. The incident has added another layer of tension to an already charged atmosphere.
First Piper 