3 India vs Pakistan Controversial Moments In Champions Trophy

Aakash Saini

India and Pakistan are arch-rivals [Source: @SPORTYVISHAL/X]India and Pakistan are arch-rivals [Source: @SPORTYVISHAL/X]

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Tempers tend to flare whenever age-old rivals India and Pakistan cross paths on a cricket field. On a grand stage like the ICC Champions Trophy, where the stakes are considerably higher than an average game, players from both camps often have a go at each other in a bid to seize a key moment or two out of a tense contest.

Celebrating the storied cricketing rivalry of India vs Pakistan, here we take a look at three certain controversial moments from matches played out between the two nations at ICC Champions Trophy events.

3. Rahul Dravid vs Shoaib Akhtar, 2004

Rahul Dravid and Shoaib Akhtar ‘bumped’ into each other when the former was completing a run during a 2004 Champions Trophy game between India and Pakistan in Birmingham. The incident sparked a fiery exchange between the two cricketing titans, with then-Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq forcing himself to play ‘referee’ to separate the two raging cricketers.

Akhtar eventually secured the last laugh as Pakistan won a low-scoring thriller by three wickets courtesy of Mohammad Yousuf’s unbeaten special.


2. Mohammed Shami Losing Cool Over Pakistan Fans

Following India’s humiliating defeat to Pakistan in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy at The Oval, a dejected Virat Kohli-led group was walking back to the pavilion after shaking hands with the winning ‘Men in Green’ players. On their way, the Indian team players were subjected to a series of taunts from Pakistan fans in the crowd.

One such remark from a group of Pakistan fans stirred up Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who decided to engage with a certain spectator only to cool down after MS Dhoni’s timely intervention.

1. BCCI vs PCB 2025 Champions Trophy Feud

Perhaps the biggest and longest-running feud between India and Pakistan’s cricketing bodies occurred over the dispute over the 2025 Champions Trophy hosting rights, where a persistent BCCI refused to send the Indian team across the border while PCB remained adamant about remaining the sole hosts of the tournament. The latter eventually caved in to BCCI’s demand and agreed to a hybrid model under ‘certain conditions.’

However, a fresh controversy erupted mere weeks prior to the launch of the 2025 Champions Trophy when BCCI unveiled Team India’s jersey. It is worth noting that the Indian jersey did not mention the name of the tournament co-hosts Pakistan, leaving the PCB fuming.