Just one day remaining for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan showdown in the Champions Trophy 2025, a sudden moment has already created a stir. The national anthem of India, ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ was inadvertently played prior to the Australia-England Group B match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium despite India not heading to Pakistan to play in the tournament.
The confusion came after England’s anthem had finished, and rather than Australia’s, a part of India’s anthem, ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata,’ was played. The mistake was immediately rectified, but not before the internet noticed and started trolling the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the slipup.
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While wishing Team Mohammad Rizwan all the best ahead of the all-important ICC Champions Trophy 2025 showdown between India and Pakistan, former Pakistan cricketer pointed out that the team that makes fewer mistakes will be winning.
While Pakistan struggles to maintain its title defense alive after a 60-run loss to New Zealand in their opener, the next high-pressure game against India becomes all the more important. Defeat would mean that they would be left relying on complicated permutations to remain in the picture. Wasim Akram is convinced that a Pakistan win would inject a lot of excitement into the tournament.
“I wish all the best to the Pakistan Cricket Team. It’s just a game. It will be a high-voltage match, and the team which commits less blunders will win the game,” Azam Khan said to ANI.
Talking more about the historic rivalry of the two teams, the 26-year-old player further said, “The India-Pakistan rivalry is off the field. The last few years’ matches between the two teams have been played in a friendly way.”
Unlike in the 50-over and T20 World Cups, Pakistan holds a slight 3-2 edge over India in the Champions Trophy, including their dominant 180-run victory in the 2017 final—during a period when Virat Kohli’s form made any target seem achievable. Pakistan heads into the match seeking redemption after their loss to New Zealand, while India started their campaign with a comfortable six-wicket win over Bangladesh.
