MULTAN, Pakistan– All the prep work and team planning will be out the window shortly, as the West Indies cricket team gears up for a long-awaited return to Pakistan’s Test arena, as they face off against the hosts in the first of two matches at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 1.30 am (T&T time), with the encounter marking the West Indies’ first Test in Pakistan in more than 18 years.
However, the stakes go beyond history. Both teams sit at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings, with Pakistan only marginally ahead.
For West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, the focus is on delivering a performance that not only lifts the team but also sets the tone for a strong start to the year.
“This series is very important for us. There are two Test matches left in this cycle, and it’s also a new year, so we want to start strong. The main thing, especially for the batters, is to be brave, trust in your plans, believe in them, and execute,” said Brathwaite.
The West Indies face some hurdles heading into the match as experienced pacer Kemar Roach has been sidelined due to illness, and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva has been dropped.
Trinidadian Amir Jangoo, who impressed with a half-century in a recent tour match, could make his Test debut.
Head coach Andre Coley is faced with another conundrum of batting either Keacy Carty at number four or Tevin Imlach.
Brathwaite, meanwhile, is on the brink of personal milestones. He needs 99 runs to surpass Richie Richardson’s Test tally and 149 to join the elite club of West Indies batters who have scored 6,000 Test runs.
One thing is for sure, spin will factor greatly, and slow bowlers Kevin Sinclair, Jomel Warrican, and Gudakesh Motie are expected to showcase their skills in Multan, while the host is set to unleash three spinners, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan and Abrar Ahmed, in their final eleven.
The last Test match between these two sides in Multan, back in November 2006, was a run-fest. Over five days and 439 overs bowled, more than 1,400 runs were scored, and only 27 wickets fell. With the venue expected to offer a similar batting-friendly surface, Brathwaite urged his players to take inspiration from past successes in comparable sub-continental conditions.
“We won a series in Bangladesh, so there’s a lot we can take from those experiences. But at the end of the day, that’s history. What has been key for the batsmen is to believe, believe and be brave.”
CMC
