India hold the whip hand in world cricket

Pakistan's loss of several Champions Trophy matches underlines India's dominance of cricket - and that "stranglehold" could tighten with an Indian now heading the global governing body.

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The 50-over tournament returns in February after an eight-year absence but India's long-standing refusal to tour arch-rival Pakistan forced the hosts to concede some of their duties.

India will instead play matches on neutral ground, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Thursday following weeks of wrangling, a decision that reflects the ease with which India can force its will on the game.

Under the agreement, Pakistan will also play in upcoming ICC tournaments hosted by India in other countries, yet to be decided.

"Any market or industry overwhelmingly dependent on a single competitor will be distorted accordingly," journalist and author Gideon Haigh of the Cricket Et Al website told AFP.