Why lose the 'mauka'! ICC admits to lobbying for India-Pakistan clash

From empty streets to full pockets! When India and Pakistan clash in cricket, it results in a major financial windfall for every section of the populace. India’s bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan have been off for a while, and the only time fans can hope to see the arch-rivals lock horns is in major International Cricket Council (ICC) events like the World Cup, World T20 and the Champions trophy. No worries though, as India and Pakistan have invariably found themselves in the same group at ICC events, often starting their campaigns against each other. India have dominated their neighbours in these contests, while Pakistan despite a number of ‘maukas’ have failed to get one over India. [caption id=“attachment_2627516” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational Image. Getty[/caption] India vs Pakistan is arguably the biggest fixture in international cricket, drawing huge worldwide television audiences, which in turn help attract major sponsors. And if you thought the two countries were meeting each other a little too frequently for it to be a coincidence, it’s not. The ICC has admitted as much, saying it has been trying to pit the two giants against one another to try and maximise revenues. So, when India begin the defence of its ICC Champions Trophy in June next year, their first match will be against Pakistan. The match, scheduled for 4 June, 2017, will be held between the sub-continental giants at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham — a city with one of the largest Asian populations in England. ICC chief executive David Richardson, speaking at the tournament’s launch at The Oval on Wednesday said, “No doubt we want to try and pit India versus Pakistan in the event. It’s massive around the world, and it’s probably no coincidence the two keep ending up in the same group.” India beat England by five runs at Edgbaston in a rain-reduced final to win the 2013 Champions Trophy, a tournament for the world’s top eight 50-over one-day international (ODI) nations. In 2017, India and Pakistan will be joined by South Africa and Sri Lanka in Group B, while Group A features a renewal of another great cricketing rivalry: England and Australia. The Ashes foes have been drawn alongside New Zealand and Bangladesh. While the ICC have failed to conjure more rivalries in cricket apart from these two, the India-Pakistan clash has already added a new dimension. Broadcasters too have done well to pick on Pakistan’s agony against India in ICC events and India’s subsequent joy in their promos. So why should the ICC be left behind now, let them also make the most of this ‘mauka’! With inputs from AFP