Hosts play for pride, Pakistan for whitewash (Preview)

Against relatively inexperienced West Indies side Pakistan were expected to win the series and they have done exactly that. Hosts have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five match ODI series and all three games have been, more or less, lop-sided affairs. All of them have been won chasing without any major stutters following terrific performance of left arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz and spin trio with the ball. Familiar West Indies batting collapses have been witnessed and bowling lacking teeth to disturb Pakistan chase have been the story of the series thus far.

Monday’s encounter might be a dead rubber but for hosts significance of the game can’t be overruled. They have hardly won anything, and, clichéd it might sound, pride is on stake for the team. In all three games batsmen have squandered comfortable position to combust for under par scores and bowlers barring leg spinner Devendra Bishoo and Ravi Rampaul all have misfired.

Such is the poor state of Caribbean cricket that place of skipper Darren Sammy who has looked woefully out of form with both the bat and ball in the side is under question. Many former cricketers have called for his head and lack of experience after exclusion of experienced trio of Chris Gayle, Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan haven’t helped either.

Batsmen haven’t been able to come to grips against Pakistan spinners and dead pitches have also made things tougher for the inexperienced side. There have been some positives though none as big as Bishoo who has impressed one and all with his variations, control and more importantly temperament. He has matched Pakistan spinners with his performances and in all likelihood a great beckons him future provided youngster is groomed nicely. Rampaul also had a good game bowling with lively pace and bounce to remove four wickets and had Pakistan on the ropes before Misbah-ul Haq rearguard.

With series result done and dusted, Pakistan will be keen to try some new faces in next two games. Fast bowler Sadaf Hussain and batsman Usman Salahuddin are likely to debut in tomorrow’s game. Unlike hosts, visitors haven’t much worry about. Their bowling has looked very menacing with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal virtually proving to be unplayable. His doosra has wrecked havoc bamboozling West Indies batsmen and making them look school boys.

Traditionally Pakistan has been very bad chasers and refreshing thing about this series win is that all the victories have come chasing. Openers have been in a good form, Asad Shafiq at number three has been impressive and Misbah has proved to be real batting stalwart undefeated in all three outings. To the young batting lineup, Misbah has lent some calmness and more importantly taken responsibility to see his side through.

One thing Pakistan should make sure that complacency doesn’t creep into their setup. This said and done, Pakistan go into this match as outright favorites another tough day for home is in offing.

WEST INDIES

Darren Sammy (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh (wk), Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Anthony Martin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons.

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.