Battle of unpredictables begins (Preview)

In a way West Indies, Pakistan bilateral fixture is a new beginning for both the teams.After World cup was over, management of both sides have maintained that they would expose some youngsters in the series and see how they fare in international cricket.

West Indies have gone for whole sale changes in this effort as senior pros like Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul have been shown the door and horde of youngsters have drafted in the squad. Pakistan, on other hand, have decided to retain the nucleus of the players that featured in the world cup but also selected some youngsters who have been performing well in the domestic cricket.

Among the new players focus will be on new wicketkeeper Salman Ahmad and all-rounder Hammad Azam, tipped to be potential replacement for ageing Abdur Razzaq, as the duo are favourites to make their ODI debuts in early stages of the tour. A series that potentially marks a new era in Caribbean cricket will begin tomorrow with both the teams aiming to unearth new talent.

Unpredictability has been the only consistent feature in both the inconsistent sides. If it is their day, there resemble to any top side in the world that day but if it isn’t their day they can be poor as any side in the world.

In first and only t-20 international between the two sides on Thursday, it was West Indies that was on the happy side of predictability factor as home team comprising four debutants stunned Pakistan to win the match.

For West Indies, young spinner Devendra Bishoo proved to be match winner bamboozling Pakistan middle order with his variations getting four wicket haul and young batsmen Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo were their stars in the batting effort.

Return of all-rounder Dwayne Bravo who missed the major part of world cup campaign due to an injury should provide some experience and flexibility to the side. Kemar Roach also returns to the side after being rested for the t-20 game and will have support of Andre Russell and Ravi Rampaul to complete the fast bowling department.

Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels will ones to watch in the batting as West Indies will be looking for senior Bravo to provide wickets with the ball and some runs in the middle order with the bat.

Under fire skipper Darren Sammy who many believe shouldn’t be in the playing at first place should need to contribute in either department to lift the team that is young, talented but short in experience.

Pakistan is relatively a settled side having a good mixture of youngsters and senior pros like skipper Shahid Afridi and Misbah ul Haq. Barring Younis Khan who has been rested for the early leg of the tour, batting lineup isn’t different from the one that took Pakistan to semi-finals.Series will provide a good opportunity for likes of talented Umar Akmal and Asad Shafiq to enhance their credentials as top two young batsmen going around in Pakistan.

Afridi as a bowler, off late, has blossomed emerging as the joint highest wicket taker in the world cup with 21 scalps but batsman in him is yet to get his brutal hitting form that he was so famous for in the world cricket. Afridi has stated that he would concentrate on his batting this series so make amends for his recent batting failures.

In bowling Pakistan has a potent spin trio of Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal and Afridi himself but fast bowling without Umar Gul is thin on experience which would mean latest sensation Wahab Riaz will be spearheading the pace attack. Highly talked about new fast bowlers Sadaf Hussain and Junaid Khan are expected to make name for themselves during the course of this series.

With experience and depth Pakistan has Afridi led side would start as the favorites but home team will be confident to overcome Pakistan outfit after their win in t-20 game.

WEST INDIES

Andre Russell, Anthony Martin, Darren Bravo, Darren Sammy (c), Devendra Bishoo, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas (wk), Dwayne Bravo (vc), Kemar Roach, Kirk Edwards, Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels, Ravi Rampaul

PAKISTAN

Abdur Rehman Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Hammad Azam, Junaid Khan, Misbah-ul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Salman(wk), Sadaf Hussain, Saeed Ajmal Shahid Afridi (c) Tanvir Ahmed, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Usman Salahuddin