ICC Champions Trophy: India vs Pakistan - The Birmingham story

The Edgbaston in Birmingham has witnessed a shade under 100 international matches (96 to be precise) - including 46 ODIs. On June 15, 2013 (Saturday), the ground will host the 'mother of all clashes' - India vs Pakistan - albeit in a 'dead rubber'. Pakistan are already out of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy while India, who played a part in their ouster, are comfortably sitting in the semis.

This was not the case though when these two sides met at the same tournament, on the same ground, in 2004. A semi-final spot was at stake then as Pakistan put India in to bat. A pain-staking 108-ball 67 by Rahul Dravid and a 50-ball 47 by Ajit Agarkar were not enough for the Men in Blue as Mohammad Yousuf's 81* (Yousuf Youhana back then) gave the Pakistani side a hard-fought 3-wicket win over their bitter archrivals.

In some sense, India have exacted revenge, of the agony they will have suffered in 2004. Pakistan were all over India back then - beating them in ODI games Sri Lanka, Holland and then England in space of a couple of months.

In terms of record at the ground, India edge Pakistan, slightly, in terms of winning percentage, although in half the number of matches - India winning three and losing two out of the five while Pakistan winning four and losing six out of their 10. In the current tournament, the Men in Blue have won both their clashes - against South Africa and West Indies - while Men in Green have lost both of theirs - against West Indies and South Africa.

The Edgbaston pitch in Birmingham is not a belter for the batsman, as suggested in the matches till now. A highest total of 269 - scored by England against Australia - was easily defended via some good bowling by James Anderson, Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad. South Africa too defended their 234 quite comfortably against Pakistan - winning by 67 runs while Australia-New Zealand encounter ended after rain interruption. Aussies scored 243 while Kiwis were 51/2 in their chase.

Apart from the Champions Trophy, Edgbaston is famous for one famed limited-overs encounter, the only tied match at the ground - the 1999 World Cup tied semi-final between South Africa and Australia. All cricket fans will remember Lance Klusener, Allan Donald and South Africa's heartbreak while Aussies rejoiced.

Another fact related to the ground is out of the 46 ODIs played here, one has been tied and four have been no-results. Of the four no-results, New Zealand have featured in 3 while the one where they did not play was a match between England and Australia.