Published: Sep 23, 2016, 07:03 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 23, 2016, 07:57 PM (IST)
Pakistan are set to lock horns with West Indies for first Twenty20 International (T20I) on Friday at Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With both teams also scheduled to play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Tests, Pakistan will be particularly looking to build their game in T20I format. In contrast, West Indies had dream run this year with regards to the shortest format. From being champions of ICC T20 World Cup 2016 to winning the T20I series against India at Florida, West Indies will surge with confidence against Pakistan. However, West Indies will be missing on their hard-hitting batsmen like Chris Gayle and Andre Russell.
There are a few uncapped players as well making an entry in the squad, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell and Kesrick Williams, all who had excellent run in Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Russell was asked to withdraw from the series due to personal matter and that brings Williams into play. Williams has been consistent threat in CPL. Pooran has equally been effective in CPL as he notched up 217 runs from just eight innings at strike rate of 197.27 for Barbados Tridents (BT). Yet another find from CPL remains Powell, who played 13 matches and scored 228 runs. Skipper Carlos Brathwaite’s tenure as the new T20I captain of West Indies was off to a good start during the India series at Florida. Evin Lewis, who struck a century in the first T20I against India also finds a place.
Some notable exclusions were Lendl Simmons, who was ruled out due to injury. With so many changes in place, West Indies also have their usual star players who can pose threat to Pakistan. Here are the possible XI Brathwaite may play against Pakistan in the first T20I: ALSO READ: PAK vs WI, 1st T20I: Sarfraz vs Narine and other key battles
Top-Order: If West Indies have stood out on most occasions, it has been their batsmen. Over all the team is pretty strong and has a long line-up. However, Brathwaite has many options to play along with. The opening pair of Johnson Charles, Evin Lewis have done a successful job on previous occasion with quick fire fifty off 33 deliveries but if there was anyone who lifted the West Indies batting was Lewis with his much needed century to put up mammoth total of 245 against India. He was also adjudged Man of the Match for the same.
Brathwaite had made a few changes in the positioning of their batsmen but knowing Andre Fletcher always plays at the top and since his knock of 84 in ICC T20 World Cup 2016, Fletcher has been unable produce runs in shortest-format that he is known for.
Middle-Order: At No. 4 is Marlon Samuels, who is pretty experienced, but was unable to get going against India as he was dismissed for single digits. His heroics against England in the final of ICC T20 World Cup 2016, shows the calibre he possesses in the middle. Samuels will need to bring T20 World Cup game against Pakistan troubling the Pakistan bowlers. ALSO READ: PAK vs WI, 1st T20I: Likely XI for Sarfraz and co
The “champion” Dwayne Bravo needs no introduction. Bravo has been the hero for West Indies in many matches with brief yet useful innings towards the end. No one can forget the wicket he grabbed of India skipper MS Dhoni and helped West Indies win the match by a run in the first T20I at Florida. His expertise does not just lie with bowling but with the bat as well and can come handy at the need of hour, especially in absence of Russell.
Kieron Pollard is the next all-rounder for the Caribbeans. Pollard is the need of the hour at crunch situations. He can smash the ball outside the stadium and can turn the game for the Windies when needed. He scored a total of 35 runs in the T20I series against India that included total of three sixes and a boundary. ALSO READ: PAK vs WI, 1st T20I, Preview and Predictions: Riveting contest between two in-form
As Ian Bishop had said, “remember the name”, yes, Brathwaite it is! He smashed Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes to take West Indies to their second T20 World Cup title. Brathwaite has been useful with 20-odd runs down the order and will be expected to do so. As for bowling, he was unable to get any wickets in the previous T20I series and has competition with other pacers like Taylor and Holder around.
Lower-Order & Bowling: The last T20I Holder was seen was against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2015. He did not get any wicket and this long gap can create issue for the bowler, especially bouncing back from the Test format. With five wickets from tri-series against Australia and South Africa, Holder will need to go all out with regards to bowling. ALSO READ: Sarfraz expects PAK to be at their best in T20Is vs WI
Sunil Narine will be the spin spearhead. Narine picked up six wickets in the tri-nation series, but was expensive in the T20Is in the US as the batsmen went after him. He will want to do better in the sub-continent. As for the second spinner, Samuel Badree was out of action for Indian Premier League (IPL). However, he was prominent with his innings in T20 World Cup 2016 where he bagged 21 wickets. As for the recently concluded T20I series, he remained wicketless.
Jerome Taylor, who retired from Test cricket recently, is prominent for his fast bowling skills. He is another bowler among the pacers to look forward to. He was last seen playing against England final of T20 World Cup 2016, the only match he played in the tournament and went wicketless. His last T20I series was against Sri Lanka away and he finished with five wickets in that series. Taylor’s experience will count against Pakistan’s experienced batsmen like Umar Akmal.
With Brathwaite and Pollard also offering help with the bowling, West Indies are strong with regards to the bowling unit as well. ALSO READ: Samuel Badree: Pakistan very dangerous team
Looking at the venue, Pakistan have an upper-hand as they have played several matches in this country. As for West Indies, they have players who have experience playing in various conditions. That will be handy for various players in this series. With regards to the uncapped players, West Indies might not want to keep their experienced players away from the series. With their dream run in T20I format, West Indies will not want to spoil their party in the shortest format.
West Indies Likely XI: Johnson Charles, Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher (wk), Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Carlos Brathwaite (c), Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree, Jerome Taylor
