Champions Trophy 2017: India and Pakistan in same group

London, June 1: Defending champions India and Pakistan are in the same group for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 One Day International tournament to be held in England and Wales in June next year.

Full schedule of Champions Trophy

The groups and schedule were announced today (June 1) in London and again the arch rivals will face off in a global tournament. India, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka are in Pool B. Australia, Bangladesh, England and New Zealand are in Pool A. World's top 8 teams will be seen in action over 18 days (June 1 to 18, 2017).

File photo of Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi (left) and India skipper MS Dhoni

Last year, in World Cup 2015, and in this year's World T20, they were in the same pools. India won both the matches. In Champions Trophy history, Pakistan hold 2-1 advantage over India.

The opening match of the Champions Trophy will be between hosts England and Bangladesh at The Oval on June 1. At Edgbaston, on June 4 (Sunday), India, in their first match, will lock horns with Pakistan.

Here are the groups

Group A: Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand

Group B: India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka

India's fixtures (Matches start at 3 PM IST)

June 4 (Sunday) - India Vs Pakistan (Edgbaston)

June 8 (Thursday) - India Vs Sri Lanka (The Oval)

June 11 (Sunday) - India Vs South Africa (The Oval)

Tournament dates and venues?

Champions Trophy will be played from June 1 to 18, 2017 in England at Cardiff Wales Stadium in Cardiff, Edgbaston in Birmingham and The Oval in London.

What is the format?

8 teams will be split into 2 groups. The top 2 from each group will progress to the knockouts (semi-finals).

How many matches in the tournament?

A total of 15 games will be played in England over 18 days.

How were the teams chosen?

The top 8 ranked teams as on the cut-off date - September 30, 2015, qualified for the Champions Trophy. West Indies were placed 9th in the table and hence missed out.

Previous Champions

1998 - South Africa (Hosts - Bangladesh, Runner-up - West Indies) - 9 teams participated

2000 - New Zealand (Hosts - Kenya, Runner-up - India) - 11 teams participated

2002 - India and Sri Lanka joint winners after the final was washed out twice (including reserve day) (Hosts - Sri Lanka) - 12 teams participated

2004 - West Indies (Hosts - England, Runner-up - England) - 12 teams participated

2006 - Australia (Hosts - India, Runner-up - West Indies) - 10 teams participated

2009 - Australia (Hosts - South Africa, Runner-up - New Zealand) - 8 teams participated

2013 - India (Hosts - England, Runner-up - England) - 8 teams participated

Previous India-Pakistan contests in Champions Trophy - Pakistan lead 2-1

September 19, 2004 (Birmingham, England) - Pakistan won by 3 wickets

September 26, 2009 (Centurion, South Africa) - Pakistan won by 54 runs

June 15, 2013 (Birmingham, England) - India won by 8 wickets (Duckworth/Lewis method)