Campaign to unearth new talent begins (Preview)

With so much of twenty-twenty cricket playing around the world, it is hard to believe that West Indies and Pakistan yet to play one between each other. And, the maiden encounter between the two countries comes at a time when some young players have blooded in both the sides. After world cup, most of the teams are looking for a rebuilding process giving youngsters opportunities to have a feel of international cricket.

In the process and during the course of this bilateral fixture, team management of both the teams, would be hoping for a couple of stars to emerge and fittingly replace senior guys on the verge of retirement.

With a dismal exit in the world cup thanks to a forgettable loss against Pakistan, West Indies selection have to decide to go for an overhaul of the team with majority of the senior men dropped.

As many as four uncapped players- batsman Danza Hyatt, all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, off-spinner Ashley Nurse, and left-arm fast bowler Krishmar Santokie- have been drafted into the side and they have been recalls to the likes of Lendl Simmons and Andre Fletcher to the national side after a long hiatus.

Young West Indies side, however, will be boosted by the return of all-rounder Dwayne Bravo who missed majority of the team’s world cup fixture due to an injury and Marlon Samuels after completing his two-year ban to lend some experience to the batting lineup.

There is not too much of chopping in the bowling as most of the bowling resources are the same that featured in the world cup except for left arm spinner Suleiman Benn’s ouster.

Pakistan haven’t gone with a wholesale changes to their squad post a defeat in semi-final against arch-rivals India with nucleus of the players retained and have named some uncapped players in both the batting and bowling department to discover a long term prospects.

Most of the uncapped players like fast bowlers Sadaf Hussain and Junaid Khan and young batsman Usman Salahuddin are tipped to be the future stars for Pakistan and for them to show the world what they are capable of they need to perform well in what is rather a weaker Caribbean side with big guns Chris Gayle, Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan missing the action owing to their exit from the team.

Pakistan led by Shahid Afridi would be keen on to continue on the good show that the team showed during the world cup.

With inexperience in both the sides and youngsters keen to prove themselves at the big stage, a good t-20 game is on cards.

It will, however, be Pakistan that will hold all aces before the start of the match thanks to their depth and experience in batting and bowling as well.

West Indies

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

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