Champions Trophy: ICC publicly admits rigging draws to put India and Pakistan in same group

When it comes to cricket and making money off it, clashes between traditional rivals India and Pakistan have always turned out to be cash cows.

The matches between arch rivals gather up to one billion in viewership, which ends up attracting sponsors, advertisers, and in turn moolah. Therefore, when both the teams started showing up in the same groups in the draws for all the major tournaments, people started questioning. The speculations about International Cricket Council (ICC) meddling with the draw process started to catch wind when India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in the group stage of Champions Trophy 2016.

But this time the apex cricket body has publicly admitted to doctoring draws, reports The Telegraph. "No doubt we want to try to put India versus Pakistan in our event. It’s hugely important from an ICC point of view. It’s massive around the world and the fans have come to expect it as well. It’s fantastic for the tournament because it gives it a massive kick, " said ICC CEO David Richardson at the press conference held at the Oval, England.

According to the daily, putting India and Pakistan in the same group was a factor in adopting a 10-team round robin format at the 2019 World Cup set to be held in England. This dictates the rest of the draw.

ICC decided the seedings of the eight teams involved on the basis of their 50-over world rankings at the end of September 2015.

The tournament will be held in England over the course of 18 days from June 1 to June 18, 2017 during which 15 matches will be played in Birmingham, Cardiff and London.