LONDON, Nov 30: Bitter rivals Pakistan and India are on course to meet in the group stages of the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy.

If Pakistan win the second match of their One-day International series against New Zealand in Lahore on Monday, they will be in the same group as India at the 12-team tournament being held in England next September.

A win would mean that on the crucial Dec 1 cut-off date, Pakistan (3rd in the current seedings) would be grouped with India (6th) and Kenya (10th).

If Pakistan, who won the first one-dayer against the Kiwis in Lahore on Saturday, lose to New Zealand on Monday they will fall to fourth in the ratings behind Sri Lanka and will play England (5th) and Zimbabwe (9th) in the ICC Champions Trophy first round.

Matches in the ICC Champions Trophy will be played at The Oval, Edgbaston and Hampshire’s Rose Bowl in England from Sept 10 to 25.

Meanwhile, world champions Australia, India and Pakistan will play a one-day tri-series in a European venue before next year’s ICC Champions Trophy, the Indian board said on Sunday. Possible choices include Scotland or the Netherlands.

Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya said the dates and venue would be announced later.

However, after the tournament, India would then play three one-dayers against hosts England before entering the 15-match Champions Trophy.

India have played Pakistan only in the World Cup in the last three years due to a government ban in 2000 on bilateral cricket owing to political tensions between the two countries.

The ban was lifted recently following a thaw in relations. The Indian team is scheduled to travel to Pakistan next March for its first full tour in 14 years.

The Champions Trophy will be contested by the 10 Test-playing nations plus Kenya and the winner of the ICC Six Nations Challenge in the United Arab Emirates next March when two of the six teams will be Scotland and the Netherlands.—AFP/Reuters