KARACHI, Feb 20: Pakistan and India are likely to renew their rivalry in the cricket field as they could meet in the semifinals of the ICC KnockOut tournament scheduled for Sri Lanka between Sept 12 and 30.
Pakistan last faced India in the league match of the 2000 Asia Cup in Dhaka where Moin Khan’s men emerged comfortable winners. Since then, the two teams haven’t clashed.
India cancelled a scheduled tour to Pakistan in 2001, and pulled out from last April’s Sharjah Cup because Pakistan was one of the participating teams.
However, the teams of the two traditional rivals locked horns in the ICC Youth World Cup in New Zealand earlier this month where Pakistan won by two wickets but failed to qualify for the final. India lost in the semifinals.
According to the new format of the 12-team ICC KnockOut tournament, Pakistan has been placed in Pool B along with 1996 World Cup winners Sri Lanka and Holland, the ICC Trophy champions.
India, on the contrary, is in Pool C alongside England and Zimbabwe. The winners of the two pools will appear in first semifinal scheduled for Sept 25. There is a battle within Pool C after England came back from 3-1 down to draw the six-match one-day series with India 3-3.
World champions Australia and South Africa are drawn to meet in the second semifinal after both were put in different pools. South Africa, host nation for next year’s World Cup, is placed along with two-time world champions West Indies and Kenya, whereas Australia is pooled with reigning champions New Zealand and Bangladesh.
The second semifinal is scheduled for Sept 27.
Interestingly, Pakistan also faced Sri Lanka in the 2000 competition while India faced England in the opener. Pakistan lost in the semifinals to eventual champions New Zealand while India reached the final.
According to sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the format and schedule would be formally approved in the Cape Town executive board scheduled for March 15 and 16.
Sri Lanka are confirmed hosts while the format is also set. It only needs the formal approval of the ICC executive board.
The competition was initially awarded to India who conceded the event after New Delhi refused to give tax relaxations. India will now host either the 2004 or 2006 tournament. Sri Lanka was stand-bye nation along with Australia and Sharjah.
“It is a good format because now the teams will play at least two league matches,” a PCB source said.
In the previous two tournaments, seeded teams directly played in the quarterfinals. Pakistan managed to reach the semifinals at Nairobi but in Dhaka in 1998, it was knocked out by the West Indies in the first match.
“The format also suits us because more matches will mean more sponsors and television rights which will result in more profits from the tournament,” he said.
It may be mentioned here that 50 per cent of the profits from the tournament go into the kitty of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The ACC received $6.5million from the Kenya tournament.
A PCB spokesman said Pakistan had no problems playing India anywhere. “Our policy is straightforward in this issue. We are looking forward to playing them in this year’s ICC KnockOut tournament,” he said.
The following are the pools:
Pool A: South Africa, West Indies, Kenya
Pool B: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Holland
Pool C: India, Zimbabwe, England
Pool D: Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh.
The following is the draw of the tournament
Sept 12 South Africa v West Indies
Sept 13 Pakistan v Sri Lanka
Sept 14 India v Zimbabwe
Sept 15 Australia v New Zealand
Sept 16 West Indies v Kenya
Sept 17 Sri Lanka v Holland
Sept 18 England v Zimbabwe
Sept 19 Australia v Bangladesh
Sept 20 South Africa v Kenya
Sept 21 Pakistan v Holland
Sept 22 New Zealand v Bangladesh
Sept 23 England v India
Sept 24 Rest day
Sept 25 first semifinal (winner pool B v winner Pool C)
Sept 26 Reserve Day
Sept 27 second semifinal (winner pool A v winner pool D)
Sept 28 Reserve Day
Sept 29 final
Sept 30 Reserve Day.