Pakistan, India encounters are no 'co-incidence': ICC chief executive

This will be seventh consecutive time when arch-rivals will face each other in group stage of mega event

LONDON: International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson admitted on Wednesday that arch-rivals India and Pakistan do not end up in the same group of every major tournament ‘by coincidence’.

Speaking at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy launch at The Oval, the 56-year-old was asked if the draw was a matter of pure coincidence, to which the former South Africa wicket-keeper answered in a diplomatic manner.

"No doubt we want to try and pit India versus Pakistan in our event,” said Richardson. “It's massive [match for viewers] around the world, and it's probably no coincidence the two keep ending up in the same group.

"What we try and do is make sure that when you add up rankings of the different groups, that they all add up to the same number of point. You can do that in a number of ways. You can go 'Zig, zag', you can go like a snake."

This will be the seventh consecutive time when the arch-rivals will face each other in the group stage of the mega event.

India-Pakistan is arguably the biggest fixture in international cricket, drawing huge worldwide television audiences, which in turn help attract major sponsors.

The June 4 2017 clash between the sub-continental giants will take place at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham -- a city with one of the largest Asian populations in England.

The neighbouring nations are placed in Group B alongside South Africa and Sri Lanka, whereas Group A is consists of hosts England, World champions Australia, World cup runner-up New Zealand and Bangladesh.

The tournament will begin on June 1 next year, and will consist of 15 matches which will be played over the course of two and half weeks.