Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat against West Indies in the third match of a three-match ODI series at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (today).
Pakistan will look to whitewash West Indies in the series.
The match will start at 4:00 PST.
Pakistan need to complete a clean sweep to rise one place to eighth in the ICC team ODI rankings, relegating its opponent to ninth.
“It takes a time to improve things,” Azhar Ali, the Pakistan skipper, said after his side knotted up the series on Sunday with a 59-run win in the second ODI.
So far, West Indies has been thoroughly outplayed in this series, losing the first ODI by 111 (DLS method) and the second by 59 runs, and it has only itself to blame.
It’s batting isn’t doing its reputation justice, the bowling has left a lot to be desired and the fielding has been below par despite possessing some of the agilest athletes in the business.
An underwhelming show in the three aspects was shown in poorer light because Pakistan, led by Babar Azam’s run glut, hasn’t put a wrong foot forward.
With Babar compiling 243 runs in two ODIs — including successive centuries — and Shoaib Malik providing the stability in the middle order, Pakistan’s batting has been dominant. Although he made a 43-ball 54 in the opener, Sharjeel Khan hasn’t built on aggressive starts, and that could very well change on Wednesday.
Imad Wasim, the highest wicket-taker in T20Is with nine scalps, hasn’t been at his best in the 50-over format, but Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz have made up for the left-arm spinner’s showing so far. Mohammad Amir has flown back home to attend to his mother who is seriously ill, the Pakistan Cricket Board has said.
Pakistan has been brilliant with its fielding, affecting several important run outs in the last game, though it’s catching was sub-par with at least four catches being put down.
Teams:
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Sohail Khan.
West Indies: Jason Holder (capt), Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Marlon Samuels.
