With two days to go until the much-awaited Champions Trophy and less than a week until high-octane India vs. Pakistan clash, the Indian flag was missing from the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, despite the flags of all other countries being present. Pakistan, the defending champions, are the host country and they are ready to welcome seven other teams for the eight-team Champions Trophy, which will start on Wednesday.

During an event at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Sunday, February 16, fans noticed that the Indian flag was absent from the venue, while the flags of the other seven participating sides of the Champions Trophy were present.

Fans said that it was PCB's response to BCCI's decision to not send the Indian team to Pakistan for the marquee event after they didn't get clearance from their government. Watch the video here:

Meanwhile, India might not have to play their Champions Trophy league matches in Dubai on slow and worn-out end-of-the-season pitches as two 22-yard tracks in fresh condition have been kept for the most followed side in global cricket.

ICC finally decided on India following a hybrid model for the Champions Trophy and allowed them to play all their matches in Dubai since they wouldn't travel to Pakistan.

India play all three league games at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) against Bangladesh on February 20, Pakistan on February 23 and New Zealand on March 2.

Pakistan will play their opening game against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, fly to Dubai to face arch-rivals India and fly back to Rawalpindi to take on Bangladesh on February 27.

There has been a fair amount of cricket being played at the DICS after the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup, which was followed by the men's U-19 Asia Cup and the popular ILT20 league which is a flagship event of the Emirates Cricket Board.

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