GUYANA: Pakistan will take on West Indies in the first one-day international (ODI) of the three-match series at Providence Stadium, Guyana on Friday.
Both teams are in danger of missing out on direct qualification for the ICC’s 2019 World Cup in England with Pakistan occupying the last qualifying spot by virtue of their 8th spot on the ODI rankings and the West Indies set to play in the qualifying tournament in Bangladesh if they cannot move up the ladder from 9th before September.
The hosts will need to find something extra with bat in hand if they are to avoid defeat to a confident Pakistan team boosted by a T20I series win and the knowledge that they whitewashed the West Indies when they last met in the UAE in 2016.
Pakistan have a lethal bowling attack capable of Testing the West Indies with pace or the guile of their tweakers with teenaged leg spin sensation Shadab Khan one to watch.
The visitors have had batting problems of their own particularly when faced with big run chases or when they find themselves under pressure.
Pakistan have been accused of having an old-fashioned approach to ODI cricket and will look to shake off that tag in this series although even a clean sweep of the West Indies is unlikely to get the critics off their backs as the hosts are perceived as sitting ducks right now.
The tourists should have too much quality for the West Indies to handle with an inexperienced batting lineup.
My only worry is PCB fixing a game!
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