The International Cricket Council(ICC) has denied the reports that India versus Pakistan encounter in the next year’s Champions Trophy was fixed.

India will begin the defence of their Champions Trophy title against arch-rivals Pakistan at next year’s tournament in England and Wales.
ICC chief executive David Richardson, speaking at the tournament launch at The Oval on May 1 said:”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,” Richardson said.

But ICC claimed that the statement has been wrongly interpreted and the grouping has been done in a fair manner.
“Richardson explained and clarified in the same interview that the groups were formed on the basis of the eight teams’ rankings as on 30 September 2015. It is just a coincidence, like it is that Australia, England and New Zealand are in Group A, that India and Pakistan are in Group B,” an ICC spokesman said.

As per rules, the top eight teams within the stipulated timeframe of September 30, 2015 qualified for the Champions Trophy and it has been ensured that both groups are balanced.

Their explanation is that cumulative total of ICC seedings is 18 for both groups. Australia (1), New Zealand (4), England (6)and Bangladesh (7) comprise group A. The sum total is 1+4+6+7 which equals 18.

Similarly, in group B, India (2), South Africa (3), Sri Lanka (5) and Pakistan (8)’s sum total of rankings is also 18.