Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

icc deny ‘fix’

‘India vs Pakistan matches on merit, not for ratings’

by Ronnie Ruff


The international Cricket Council (iCC) has played down reports that they deliberately group india and Pakistan together in their major tournaments.

the rivals will play each other in the group stage of their events for the fifth consecutive time in next year’s Champions trophy, prompting chief executive Dave richardson to admit ‘it’s hugely important from an iCC point of view’.

richardson told a national newspaper: “No doubt we want to try to put india versus Pakistan in our event. 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.

“What we try and do is make sure that when you add up the rankings of the different groups, they all add up to the same number of points. You can do that in a number of ways. So long as the pools are balanced, it’s silly to avoid [the fixture] when you can fairly cater for it.”

Matches between the two countries regularly attract huge television audiences; one billion reportedly watched their match in this year’s iCC World twenty20.

As india and Pakistan no longer play test or one-day series together following the Mumbai terror attacks, it has long been speculated the iCC has arranged matches to maximise inter- est and profit.

they where quick to claim richardson’s comments were taken out of context, and rankings were the number one factor in arranging the groups.

“David richardson has 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.

“the groups were determined strictly according to the rankings as at the cut-off date and in such a way as to create parity in each group, so that one group is not stronger than the other. this requires that the total ranking points in each group should be the same.

“this method has been consistently followed for all previous events and strictly with- in those parameters, it has turned out that india/Pakistan have found themselves legitimately and fairly in the same group.”

their explanation is the cumulative total of iCC seedings is 18 for both groups. Australia (1), New Zealand (4), eng- land (6) and Bangladesh (7) comprise group A. the sum total equals 18. in group B, india (2), South Africa (3), Sri Lanka (5) and Pakistan (8)’s total is also 18.

More For You

Gill-Shubman-Getty

Shubman Gill anchored India’s innings with a century, helping them post 356 after being sent in to bat. (Photo: Getty Images)

Gill’s ton leads India to 3-0 ODI series sweep over England

INDIA secured a 142-run victory over England in the third ODI on Wednesday, completing a 3-0 series sweep at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Shubman Gill anchored India’s innings with a century, helping them post 356 after being sent in to bat.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah, named the 2024 International Cricketer of the Year, has been sidelined since sustaining a lower back injury during the Sydney Test in January. (Photo: BCCI)

Bumrah ruled out of India's Champions Trophy squad, Harshit Rana named replacement

INDIA's Champions Trophy campaign suffered a setback as fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the tournament due to an ongoing injury.

Bumrah, named the 2024 International Cricketer of the Year, has been sidelined since sustaining a lower back injury during the Sydney Test in January. The injury also kept him out of the white-ball series against England.

Keep ReadingShow less
shubman-gill-bcci

Shubman Gill plays a shot during the 3rd ODI between India and England in Ahmedabad. (Photo credit: BCCI)

England bowl first in Ahmedabad ODI as India rest key players

ENGLAND captain Jos Buttler won the toss and chose to bowl against India in the third one-day international in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

England, trailing 2-0 in the three-match series, are aiming for a win ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rohit-Sharma-BCCI

Rohit brought up his 32nd ODI hundred with a six off Rashid but was dismissed soon after, caught by Rashid off a Livingstone full toss. (Photo: BCCI)

Rohit’s century powers India to ODI series win over England

INDIA secured the ODI series against England with a four-wicket win in the second match on Sunday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead ahead of the Champions Trophy. Captain Rohit Sharma led the chase with a 90-ball 119, helping India reach the 305-run target in 44.3 overs.

A floodlight failure delayed India’s innings for 30 minutes, but it did not affect Rohit, who struck seven sixes and 12 fours. Earlier, England posted 304 all out with one ball remaining, opting to bat first at Barabati Stadium.

Keep ReadingShow less
Northern-Superchargers-Getty

Ben Stokes and Matthew Short of Northern Superchargers walk out to bat during The Hundred match between Manchester Originals and Northern Superchargers on August 11, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo: Getty Images)

Sunrisers Hyderabad to acquire Northern Superchargers in £100 million deal

INDIAN Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad is set to become the first full owners of an English Hundred team after agreeing to buy Yorkshire’s Northern Superchargers for a reported £100 million.

The Sun Group will be the third IPL-linked investor in the eight-team Hundred competition, following Reliance Industries, which owns Mumbai Indians, and RPSG, which runs Lucknow Super Giants.

Keep ReadingShow less