Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting made a valid point regarding the surfaces in UAE for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting September 19. 

Ponting believes the freshness of the tracks after an extended break at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah will give just enough encouragement to pacers through "a little more bounce"  than expected on traditionally slow surfaces. 

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The pitches at all three venues are expected to play slow, deteriorate as the tournament progresses and help spinners, which will augur well for the Capitals as they traded in off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and retained leg-spinners Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane and left-arm spinner Axar Patel. 

But at the start, Ponting thinks pacers like Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma & co will definitely play their part as well. 

"We saw how damaging Rabada was last year at the Kotla and that was a slow, low pitch. I think these wickets will probably be on the slower side but will offer a little more bounce. That actually suits guys like Rabada, Nortje, Ishant Sharma, Avesh Khan, Daniel Sams," Ponting told the Indian Express. 

"And as the tournament goes on, the wickets will probably change. They might spin a bit more in the back half and we have got a very well-balanced and very experienced spin-bowling group as well, with Ashwin, Mishra, Axar Patel and Lamichhane. We think we have come up with a really well-balanced squad," he added. 

Capitals' fixture-list sees them play seven matches in Dubai, four in Abu Dhabi and three in Sharjah. Teams have been preparing for all scenarios in the build-up. But they won't know what to exactly expect of the pitch in Dubai before the tournament, as the practice in the city has only been allowed at the ICC Academy, not the main ground. 

"Right now, we have almost had three weeks of practice so far," Ponting said. "We have moved around the venues as well. We have trained in Sharjah. We have trained in Dubai, at the Academy ground. So, we haven't actually been to the main ground in Dubai yet. We don't really know exactly what the wickets are going to be like."

"Whenever you are going to an auction, it's generally picking a squad of players that you think will serve you well in your home conditions. But I think we have got most bases covered," he added. 

(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)