Organizers Play Indian Anthem Before Australia vs England Match in Lahore

Indian Anthem Blunder Before Australia vs England Match in Lahore

Imagine standing at a packed stadium, eagerly waiting for a thrilling cricket match, and suddenly hearing the wrong national anthem being played. This exact scenario unfolded at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, leaving players and fans in shock. Before the highly anticipated Australia vs England match in the Champions Trophy 2025, a surprising blunder occurred—the Indian national anthem was played instead of Australia’s.

What Happened?

The unexpected incident took place just before the match on February 22. As per protocol, the national anthems of both competing teams are played before the start of an International Cricket Council (ICC) event. However, instead of Australia’s anthem, ‘Advance Australia Fair,’ the stadium speakers mistakenly played India’s national anthem.

The error lasted only a few seconds before officials quickly realized the mistake and stopped it. Moments later, the correct Australian anthem was played, but not before the video of the mix-up went viral on social media.

Organizers React to the Blunder

The organizers at the Gaddafi Stadium were left red-faced after the mistake. This was particularly strange since India is not even playing in Lahore during the tournament. Due to political tensions, India has opted to play all its matches in Dubai, following a hybrid tournament model.

After the mistake, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) immediately wrote to the ICC, demanding an explanation. In response, the ICC clarified that the blunder was due to a technical glitch from the broadcaster’s end. The graphics and anthem feed were managed by UK-based production company Sunset & Vine under ICC supervision. The ICC assured the PCB that such mistakes would not happen again in future matches.

Challenges for Australia and England

Despite the anthem mix-up, the focus soon shifted to the match itself. Both Australia and England are entering the tournament with challenges:

Australia’s Struggles:

• Key players missing, including captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc.
• Mitchell Marsh ruled out due to a back injury.
• Recent injuries have weakened their squad.

England’s Form:

• Struggling after consecutive ODI series losses against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
• Whitewashed 3-0 by India in a recent series.
• Jos Buttler and his team need to perform well to stay competitive.

Early Match Action

After winning the toss, Australian captain Steve Smith chose to bowl first. His decision paid off quickly, as left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis struck twice, dismissing Phil Salt (10) and Jamie Smith (15) early in the game.

Playing XIs:

Australia:

• Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.

England:

• Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Also read | IPL 2025 Schedule, Venue & Players List

Social Media Reactions

The anthem mix-up quickly became a hot topic on social media. Many fans shared their reactions, while cricket enthusiasts debated how such an error could happen at an international event. A viral video of the incident can be seen here:

This anthem blunder at the Champions Trophy 2025 added an unexpected twist to the tournament. While the mistake was rectified quickly, it raised questions about event management and technical oversight in international cricket. With the ICC assuring that such errors won’t happen again, fans can now turn their attention to the exciting matches ahead.