The ICC has said that there has been no deliberate attempt to schedule an India-Pakistan encounter during next year’s Champions Trophy in England as has been widely reported in the British media.

India and Pakistan have been placed in Group-B.

“No doubt we want to try to put India versus Pakistan in our event,” ICC chief executive Dave Richardson had told the Daily Telegraph.

“It’s hugely important from an ICC point of view. It’s massive around the world and the fans have come to expect it as well. It’s fantastic for the tournament because it gives it a massive kick,” Richardson has been further quoted.

But according to sources in the ICC, they feel that a wrong twist is being given to the groupings.

“David Richardson had explained and clarified in the same interview that the groups were formed on the basis of the eight teams’ rankings as on 30 September 2015,” an ICC spokesman told PTI on Thursday.

“It is just a coincidence that India and Pakistan are in Group-B.”

Meanwhile, Richardson has said plans are afoot to introduce promotion and relegation to revive and secure the future of Test cricket.

“If we really want Test cricket to survive, we can’t have the number of Test teams diminishing. We have to create a competition structure which provides promotion and relegation and opportunities to get to the top,” he said.

The ICC cricket committee, which is meeting at Lord’s this week, will look to introduce two divisions into Tests as a way of reviving interest in the classical format.