Pakistan could face India in ICC KnockOut semifinal

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Pakistan could face India in ICC KnockOut semifinal
Samiul Hasan - 21 February 2002

Pakistan and India are likely to renew their rivalry in the cricket field as they couldmeet 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 semi-finals.

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 semi-final 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 semi-final 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 semi-finals 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 semi-finals 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.