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Pakistan vs West Indies, 1st ODI: West Indies’ likely XI

After a one-sided Twenty20 International (T20I) series, Pakistan is all set to face West Indies in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series.

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West Indies have not won a single match in the tour against Pakistan so far © AFP
West Indies have not won a single match in the tour against Pakistan so far © AFP

After a one-sided Twenty20 International (T20I) series, Pakistan is all set to face West Indies in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series. The first match is scheduled to be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Playing in UAE, which is Pakistan’s home away from home, West Indies struggled vividly and failed to win a single match in the T20I series. The current world champions played with a half-strength team and looked to be missing the binding force that could help them act as a team. The newly included players did well in domestic cricket but their performance showed that they are not yet prepared for international cricket.

The West Indies batting has been entirely exposed in the T20I series as Pakistan bowlers let them with no chance to score in the three matches excepting a few heroics which were not enough to take the team to victory following a combined failure of the team. The batsmen lacked consistency and while both Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo performed in one match each, they failed to maintain that for the rest of the series.

Pakistan on the other hand looked confident and put up fruitful performances forward. From time to time, names like Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik emerged with match-winning performances while Khalid Latif remained quite consistent. One player, who played extremely well is Imad Wasim. Imad picked up a total of 9 wickets from the three matches, becoming the true hero of the series. Sohail Tanvir also pulled off a decent job while Hasan Ali and Mohammad Nawaz also impressed.

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As the two teams face each other once again and this time in 50-overs affair, Pakistan will look to maintain the dominance and win the series opener to keep the advantage with them while it is very important for West Indies to win a match from here after three consecutive failures. Before the match, here is West Indies’ likely XI with which the team can be expected to play.

Top-order: West Indies have tried their all three options to open during the T20I series as they went with both the Johnson Charles-Evin Lewis and Johnson Charles-Andre Fletcher combinations, both of which failed. The team has dropped Fletcher and in comes Kraigg Brathwaite in the squad, who will have to pair up with either of the other two, preferably Lewis. First and foremost, the batsmen will have to move on from whatever failure they have had on this tour and start afresh with a strong start. West Indies have always been known as one of the strongest batting sides of modern day cricket and the team does not lack good players. The players will have to be patient since the condition is not something they have played a lot in contrary to Pakistan who play a lot of cricket at these venues. In 50-overs game, the batsmen will have a lot more time to settle down and need to provide a start their team wants. At No. 3, it is definitely Darren Bravo who comes out to bat. One of the most consistent power-hitters of the generation, Darren Bravo has been that one man who stands and deliver no matter what conditions West Indies are playing in. The same will be expected from the player who recently scored a brilliant century during the tri-nation series at home.

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Middle-order: Marlon Samuels is another name the West Indies batting depends a lot upon. The player has not been up to the mark in the current tour but has a lot of potentials within to play a match-winning knock for his side. If the top-order manages to provide with a strong start, it will be easier for Samuels to go with the flow and play his own game with ease. A surprise inclusion to the side is Denesh Ramdin who had recently been sidelined without any proper reason. However, it is a good sign as this will bring in a lot more experience to the side. Ramdin is a good wicketkeeper-batsman who can play the important role of holding the innings together and keep his calm letting the other batsmen hit freely at the other end. Kieron Pollard, for that matter, is there for the slog hitting purpose along with Carlos Brathwaite and skipper Jason Holder down the order.

Bowlers: West Indies had disappointed both with both batting and bowling. Suliemann Benn and Sunil Narine are two experienced bowlers in the side who will have to take over the responsibility. While the Pakistan spinners, especially Imad, are making full use of the condition, the West Indies spinners have not been able to be as effective on the similar field. Pacers will have a big role as well, preferably quite early, as the team consists of a number of pacers. Getting Alzarri Joseph in can be a good move as the Pakistan players have not faced him before. Joseph is a talented young pacer and with a disciplined bowling can get the top-order if played. Carlos Brathwaite and Holder will be the other two names for the fast-bowling.

West Indies likely XI: Kraigg Brathwaite, Evin Lewis, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kieron Pollard, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Suliemann Benn, Sunil Narine, Alzarri Joseph

(Paulami Chakraborty, a singer, dancer, artist, and photographer, loves the madness of cricket and writes about the game. She can be followed on Twitter at @Polotwitts)

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