India can't dodge Pak in Champions Trophy, predicts Najam Sethi

Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) Executive Committee chairman Najam Sethi has stressed that India will have to play against Pakistan at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England despite the constant refusal by the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI).

BCCI president Anurag Thakur had decided against playing Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy league matches, and even asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) not to put the two sides in the same group in the wake of escalating tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Reflecting on the same, Najam said the PCB had made it clear to the world's cricket governing body that if India decide against playing Pakistan in the 2017 mega event, then his side should be given full points of the game.

"As much as 20 percent of the ICC event's revenue will be generated through Pakistan-India games and the ICC too realises the importance of this match," the Dawn quoted Najam as saying.

"The Indian Government may not allow the BCCI to play against Pakistan in the event. But, since India lost six points recently for not playing the bilateral series against us, which was part of ICC Women's Championship, the BCCI cannot afford such a thing in an important tournament like the Champions Trophy," he added.

The ICC generally puts both the teams in the same group as it generates enormous amount of publicity for the game.

Despite not playing a full-fledged bilateral series against Pakistan since the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, the arch-rivals have played each other a number of times in the ICC events, with the most recent coming at the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup.