India and Pakistan were placed in the same pool for next year’s Champions Trophy, to be held in England in September. The draw for the $1.25m 12-team event, dubbed the ’Mini World Cup’, was held here today, and Kenya complete that group.
India have played Pakistan, who are the third seeds for the tournament, only in the World Cup in the last three years but, following the lifting of the embargo, are set to play a series in Pakistan early next year. It would be India’s first full tour in 14 years.
Top-seeds and world champions Australia were drawn with New Zealand, as they were in the 2002 tournament, while the third team in the group will be the winners of the ICC Six Nations Challenge in the United Arab Emirates in February and March next year.
England were drawn with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe while second-seeded South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh make up the other group. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the seedings for the Champions Trophy were based on the official ODI ratings.
Pool 1: Australia, New Zealand, Qualifier (winner of ICC Six Nations Challenge)
Pool 2: South Africa, West Indies, Bangladesh
Pool 3: Pakistan, India, Kenya
Pool 4: Sri Lanka, England, Zimbabwe
Pool winners qualify for the semi-finals.