A fresh looking West Indies team was supposed to take on Pakistan, one of the best T20I teams going around in the world at the moment. With the three match series scheduled to kick off from Monday, 13 December in Karachi, West Indies were dealt a triple jolt of Covid-19 cases with Sheldon Cottrell, Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase testing positive just a day ahead of the first game.
As if the West Indies did not have enough problems already.
They have travelled to Pakistan aiming to get over their horrible run in the ICC T20 World Cup. The part of the process included leaving behind the likes of Dwayne Bravo - who retired after the WC and Chris Gayle - who is not part of the plans any longer. Two generational talents who defined the last decade when it comes to the evolution of T20 cricket. For that matter, Andre Russell, the last remaining proven powerhouse of the golden generation has snubbed the series and is playing in the Big Bash League in Australia at the moment.
The visitors do not have the services of eight players in total.
Young gun Fabian Allen and Obed McCoy have been ruled out with an injury. Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons and as explained before, Andre Russell are not a part of this tour, and Jason Holder has been rested.
While that means there is plenty of scope to experiment, but when an inexperienced side like this comes up against a T20I powerhouse like Pakistan, things generally do not go very well for them.
West Indies Squad
Nicholas Pooran (c & wk), Darren Bravo, Dominic Drakes, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr, Rovman Powell.
Not a full strength Pakistan, but still good enough
Pakistan on their side are not playing a full strength squad as well. Shoiab Malik in Sri Lanka playing the Lanka Premier League, while the team has chosen to rest Hasan Ali. Imad Wasim and Sarfaraz Ahmed are not playing as well.
The team is coming off a fantastic T20 World Cup and a strong series in Bangladesh, where the absolutely drubbed the subcontinental threat Bangladesh three-nil at their own backyard
Pakistan Squad
Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir
Match Details
Pakistan vs West Indies
Match - 1st T20I
Date & Venue - 13 December, National Stadium Karachi
Timing - 6:30 PM IST (6 PM local)
Broadcast - Sony Sports network
Pitch Report
The pitches in Karachi have been quite lively in the last Pakistan Super League with pace bowlers getting generous purchase for at least the first four overs inside the powerplay. Once that is done, the wicket turns into a batting paradise with a little hint of help for the spinners.
Probable Playing XI
West Indies
Brandon King, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Nicholas Pooran (c & wk), Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Dominic Drakes, Sheldon Cottrell, Hayden Walsh Jr, Oshane Thomas
Pakistan
Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan (vc), Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani
CE Fantasy XI
Mohammad Rizwan (C), Babar Azam (vc), Rovman Powell, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Odeon Smith, Sheldon Cottrell, Hayden Walsh Jr, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Oshane Thomas