Published: Sep 23, 2016, 07:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 24, 2016, 12:30 AM (IST)
Hello and Welcome to CrickteCountry’s coverage of the first T20 International (T20I) between Pakistan and West Indies at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. Pakistan have some sort of momentum with them having won the one-off T20I series against England, having lost the One-Day International (ODI) series before that. New skipper Sarfraz Ahmed will want to keep it up and also extend the team’s momentum, having won his first ever match as captain. West Indies on the other hand beat India in the two-match T20I series in USA. Like Pakistan, West Indies too have a new skipper in Carlos Brathwaite, who like Sarfraz has gotten off to a god start.
West Indies have included a couple of new faces in the side. Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell did an excellent warm-up T20 match ahead of this match. They scored 47 not our and 38 to help their side reach a respectable 166 for 7 against Emirates Cricket Board XI. Their bowlers came to the party and managed to restrict their opposition to 144 for 6 in their 20 overs, thereby winning the match by 22 runs. They might get a chance t feature against Pakistan today. For Pakistan, the likes of Rumaan Raees and Saad Nasim are unknown quantities. Pakistan will look to include a few youngsters in their side as well. The likes of Hasan Ali, who bowled very well in England have been rewarded for their good show and have been given yet another series. However, their senior pro, Mohammad Hafeez misses out due to an injury. He missed out a huge chunk of the ODI series in England due to injury as well.
West Indies however will not have the services of all-rounder Andre Russell, who has pulled out of the tour citing personal reasons. Also the hard-hitting Chris Gayle does not find a place in the side. He was sidelined for the series against India as well due to illness. His place has been latched on by Evin Lewis, who scored an excellent century against India in the US, in just his second T20I. With the inclusion of Pooran and Chadwick Walton in the side, West Indies now have as many as three wicketkeepers in the side with Andre Fletcher already there. Other T20 specialists like Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree and Kieron Pollard have been retained in the squad. Jreome Taylor will make his first appearance for the West Indies since announcing his Test retirement, just ahead of the series against India. Pakistan vs West Indies LIVE Streaming: Watch PAK vs WI 1st T20I 2016 live telecast online
As far as Pakistan are concerned, they have recalled Umar Akmal back into their T20I squad. Other than that, not many major changes to the side. The fate of the match will pretty much be decided if Pakistan can control West Indies’ batting line-up. The pitch may have a role for the spinners later on in the game. This will be beneficial for West Indies having the likes of Badree and Sunil Narine. The conditions will be a little similar to that in the Caribbean which evens the home advantage Pakistan will have. Another aspect is that there will be humidity too which may bring in the dew factor. Lots of things will be in both team’s dugout before finalising the team.
West Indies are the current T20 champions and a win in this match will put them in good stead going ahead in the tour. After this match, the two teams play two more T20Is, followed by three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and three Tests.
There is not much to separate both the teams with the conditions in offer and seeing the uncertain nature of T20Is. If Pakistan have the experience of playing a lot in UAE, West Indies have players who participate in various leagues across the globe and know how to play the blink-and-a-miss format. It is hard to pick a favourite but West Indies will test the hosts in all quarters.
West Indies have had a memorable year so far in the shortest format. They won the T20 World Cup 2016 against India and then followed it up with a series win against India in Florida. The the ODIs they reached the final of the tri-nation series, which also featured South Africa and Australia. But n Tests, they were comprehensively beaten 2-0 in the four-Test series by India in the Caribbean.
Pakistan however did well in England in Tests. They drew the series 2-2, before going down 4-1 in the ODI series. Their performance in the Tests has seen them go to the summit of the ICC Test rankings for the first time since the ranking system was introduced. With no country willing to tour Pakistan due to security reasons, they are forced to play all their home matches in the UAE at the moment.
ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson has clearly stated that cricket in Pakistan can only resume once the security situation improves. “I know there is lot of passion for cricket in Pakistan and that is why I always enjoy coming here. But only the security situation will decide when international cricket returns to Pakistan,” Richardson said, according to PTI.
Squads:
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Babar Azam, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Nawaz, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Aamer, Hasan Ali, Umar Akmal, Rumman Raees, Saad Nasim
West Indies: Carlos Brathwaite (c), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles (wk), Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Kesrick Williams, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton
