Champions Trophy: Teams ready for a battle of pitches

Different track conditions are likely to test the teams other than India, who play only in Dubai

- Rasesh Mandani

MUMBAI: The difference in the average score batting first (between venues producing highest and lowest totals) across Pakistan's three Champions Trophy venues Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi is 12 runs. All are high-scoring venues with the most runs (290) coming at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. The fourth venue in the competition - Dubai International Stadium - though produces 42 fewer runs than Lahore.

There cannot be a single algorithm to go past the winning line for this ICC tournament is different in more ways than one. But certain distinct features of each venue are noticeable.

Batting-friendly Lahore Defending champions Pakistan don't play a league match in Lahore, where the average winning score while batting first climbs to 317 runs. If the hosts qualify for knockouts, they play both their semi-final and the final in Lahore, unless India makes the final. In which case Dubai will see a rematch of the arch-rivals they face off in a Group A league clash on February 23.

Three of the four Group B teams England, Australia and Afghanistan would be happy to play two of their three league matches in Lahore. England, coming off a poor series in India, would certainly like returning to decks friendlier for batters and less for spinners.