A wrong Pakistan flag appeared during the national anthems ahead of their FIH Pro League clash against India, sparking outrage among fans.
The flag, missing its vertical white stripe, failed to represent the official design that features a green field, crescent, star, and the white stripe symbolising minorities.
Supporters quickly noticed the error and voiced their frustration online. One fan remarked that cricket’s dominance in Pakistan sidelines other sports, while another sarcastically tweeted that the missing stripe reflected the country’s disregard for minorities. The incident drew sharp criticism and embarrassed Pakistan hockey supporters.
Despite the anthem controversy, Pakistan started strong by opening the scoring. However, India fought back and secured a 4-3 victory. Pakistan managed two goals in the final quarter but could not overturn the deficit. The flag blunder overshadowed the spirited contest and left fans disgruntled.
The episode highlighted organisational lapses at the FIH Pro League and raised questions about attention to detail during high-profile matches. For Pakistan hockey, already struggling with performance issues, the anthem mishap added another layer of disappointment.
