Pakistan and West Indies will kickstart two-match Test series in Multan from 17th January.
Match Preview:
Pakistan is all set to play the final Test series of their on-going World Test Championship cycle. For Pakistan, the series is not important for the WTC scenarios as they are placed at number 9 but the side will look to maintain the home record as they recently beat England on home soil, ending their winless drought since 2021.
The home team will be coming from a 2-nil defeat against South Africa but a recent win at home will give them confidence. Babar Azam found himself among the runs in the recent Africa series so a lot will be dependent on him. Besides him, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan will be the key players for the side as both can play spin quite well.
The captain Shan Masood was on song against Africa and was hooked to replicate those knocks at home soil as well.
“Home conditions are very important in Test cricket. We’ve adopted a certain style of play and pitch preparation, and we want to take the momentum of the England series forward.” Shan Masood
In the bowling department, Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali will play a key role as they were the main characters when Pakistan beat England in their recent match-up.
Talking about West indies, they haven’t been on par as well. The West Indies’ thrilling victory over Australia in Brisbane now seems like a distant memory. Since then, they’ve suffered a dismal clean sweep at the hands of England, a disappointing home series loss to South Africa, and a lackluster drawn series against Bangladesh.
Recognizing the need for transformation, the West Indies have made a bold move by dropping vice-captain Joshua Da Silva due to his recent batting struggles. Nevertheless, captain Kraigg Brathwaite and his team are aware that their challenges extend far beyond this single change. This series presents an opportunity for them to, at the very least, climb out of the bottom spot.
The captain Kraig Brathwaite is upbeat for the upcoming Test series and would look to start the new year on a high note
“We’ve adjusted well – similar conditions to Islamabad [where the warm-up game was held]. We have acclimatised and are looking forward to the Tests.” Kraigg Brathwaite
Pitch and weather report:
The big question on everyone’s mind is: can Pakistan’s unorthodox methods pay off again? In a bold move, they’re using a greenhouse to heat up the Multan pitch, defying the freezing January temperatures. Having successfully manipulated the Rawalpindi surface to their advantage against England in October, they’re hoping to replicate that feat. If they succeed, expect the pitch to turn sharply from the start, with spin playing a dominant role throughout the Test. And, of course, the bitterly cold weather will only add to the challenge.
Playing XI:
Pakistan: 1 Shan Masood (capt), 2 Muhammad Hurraira, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Kamran Ghulam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Salman Agha, 8 Noman Ali, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Abrar Ahmed, 11 Khurram Shahzad
West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Mikyle Louis, 3 Justin Greaves, 4 Keacy Carty/Tevin Imlach, 5 Alick Athanaze, 6 Kavem Hodge, 7 Amir Jangoo (wk), 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Kevin Sinclair, 10 Jomel Warrican, 11 Jayden Seales
Head-to-head record:
In the head-to-head match-ups between Pakistan and West Indies, Pakistan holds a significant edge. Out of the 28 matches played, Pakistan has emerged victorious 15 times, while the West Indies have managed to win only 6 matches. Seven matches have ended in a draw, and none have been abandoned without a result.
Prediction:
Given their recent win at home against West Indies, Pakistan is favourite to win the first Test match of the series.
Where to Watch:
Pakistan: Tapmad
MENA + South East Asia: Cricbuzz
North America: Willow
Bangladesh: T Sports
UK: ARY Digital
India: FanCode
Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport
