After weeks of hypothesis, Pakistan are set to take on the West Indies inside the first of the 3-match One-day International collection on the Multan Cricket Stadium right here afterward Wednesday, with vital ICC Cricket World Cup Super League (CWCSL) points up for grabs.
This will be after an opening of more than 14 years that worldwide cricket is returning to the venue with Bangladesh having performed right here in April 2008.
The collection became initially scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi but changed into moved to Multan on the closing minute.
The collection towards the West Indies changed into rescheduled from December 2021, because of a Covid-19 outbreak inside the Caribbean facet, to June this 12 months.
West Indies are returning from the Netherlands, in which they swept a three-fit ODI series three-0. Currently, they’re sitting in fourth spot on the CWCSL standings with 80 points from 18 games, while Pakistan are tenth with 60 points from 12 ODIs.
Pakistan will move into the series with a fantastic thoughts-set, having received their final ODI contest, in opposition to Australia, via a 2-1 margin at domestic in March-April. The side can be bolstered by the go back of Shadab Khan, who ignored that collection due to an harm.
Imam-ul-Haq (298 runs) and Babar Azam (276 runs) have been the pinnacle run-getters, averaging 149 and 138 respectively. Meanwhile, their pacers had been amazing with the ball, an assault that was led by using Shaheen Shah Afridi.
In the West Indies camp, Nicholas Pooran’s aspect saw some strong performances from their top 3 batters in opposition to Netherlands. Shai Hope, Shamarh Brooks and Kyle Mayers struck centuries even as Brandon King made an vital 91. Their bowlers blended collectively at some stage in the collection, in keeping with International Cricket Council (ICC).
However, Pooran, who recorded rankings of seven, 10 and seven in the 3 ODIs will search for a robust comeback in opposition to Babar’s facet.
One of the largest demanding situations for both teams might be managing the heat. Temperatures are predicted to hover across the high 40s, hence all fits will begin at four pm neighborhood time to address the stifling conditions.
The remaining time the 2 teams met in a bilateral affair for 50-over internationals changed into in September 2016 while Pakistan hosted West Indies inside the UAE for a 3-suit collection. Pakistan were dominant as they put up big targets in extra of three hundred twice and 285 in the first ODI.
Babar emerged because the breakout megastar and become adjudged Player of the Series for registering sensational scores of a hundred and twenty (his first ODI century), 123 and 117 in three suits. He have become the 0.33 Pakistan batter to score three consecutive centuries in men’s ODIs and 8th overall.
“This is an crucial series for us as it holds essential Super League factors. The gamers were putting in quite a few attempt to prepare themselves for the West Indies undertaking and we’re keen to win every other series and bag most points to consolidate our possibilities for direct qualification within the 2023 World Cup,” said Babar Azam in advance of the in shape.
West Indies head train Phil Simmons delivered, “The warmness is going to be intense, (however) Pakistan are playing within the warmth, too, so it’s going to be an excellent contest when we start the day. How we cope with it before, for the duration of and after is going to help us a lot.”
Squads:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Zahid Mahmood.
West Indies: Nicholas Pooran (c), Shai Hope, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Shermon Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Keemo Paul, Anderson Phillip, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.
(Inputs from IANS)
