 The ODI series between West Indies and Pakistan will start from Saturday,
April 23, as the two sides take on each other in a day game at the Gros Islet
in St. Lucia. The two teams play in this first ODI after having played a one-off
T20I game. West Indies fought hard to beat Pakistan in that one-off game, an excellent
result for the home side considering that they have some new players, and had
given up on a host of their old ones.
It remains to be seen how the West Indian side can continue to play in the same
vein as before. They have had these turnarounds which have lasted all of one game
and then the side has capitulated further. What they need now is for the team
to be able to repeat the performance in the ODIs as well and give the more fancied
Pakistan a run for their money. It will be interesting to see how.
Click for Live Score Card of Pakistan Vs West Indies
West Indies will be continued to be led by Darren Sammy in the series.
The problem that Sammy is facing right now is that his own batting form hasn't
been good and while he is compensating by bowling and fielding well, the pressure
will be on him to retain the spot in the side as an all-rounder. After all, as
a captain, it could get difficult to motivate the side if one is not performing
to the best of one's abilities.
Dwayne Bravo returns to the side as well after missing out the T20I. This means
that the side will be strong, especially with the presence of the likes of Lendl
Simmons, who made a 65 and Darren Bravo, who is clearly the form-man of
the competition and will look to ensure that the side can get going. Amongst the
others, Devendra Bishoo managed to get four wickets and he will be the bowler
to watch out for the West Indians.
Pakistan will rely on Shahid Afridi to ensure that they can get going with
the ball. However, more importantly, they need someone who can bat through the
innings, and not fritter away their wickets. There were too many youngsters in
the Pakistani innings in the T20I who wasted their start away just like that and
that is something that they need to guard against. The side will look to continue
with their winning streak after having beaten WI in the World Cup quarter-finals.
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