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The West Indies are set to host Pakistan in a four-match T20I series. The series will kick start with the first game at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown in Barbados, on July 28.
Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies will get underway with the four-match T20I series, where both teams will be looking to try out different options in preparation for the T20 World Cup.
The defending champions, West Indies, have been on a path to build their best possible XI for their World T20 title defence later this year. After two outstanding series against South Africa and Australia, the hosts will now take on Pakistan in their last T20I series before the World Cup.
The West Indies team was pushed to the limits by SA in a super competitive series, where the hosts WI lost the series by 2-3. They made a great comeback to demolish an already depleted Australia side by 4-1 in the next series. Kieron Pollard returns to lead the side after missing the last T20I series against Australia.
Pakistan have also lost one and won one of their last two T20I series. They defeated Zimbabwe by 2-1 in April while lost against England by 1-2 away from home just a week back.
Although the Covid-19 has forced this series to be cut down by one match, the four-match series should be entertaining. The contest between these two sides, who have completely different playing styles, should be an intriguing one.
Key Players
Evin Lewis has been a rock for the West Indies at the top of the order in white-ball cricket. The 29-year-old has scored 288 runs in eight innings this year, averaging 36 with an astonishing strike rate of 179. He’s also coming fresh off a fifty against Australia in the last ODI. In his international T20 career, Lewis has scored 1277 runs at an average and strike rate of 32 and 160, respectively.
Andre Russell needs no introduction. One of the most valuable T20 players in world cricket, the 33-year old all-rounder has played leagues worldwide and brings immense experience. Since his return to the West Indies side ahead of the summer, Russell has displayed his brutal power-hitting on a few occasions. Some of his knocks in the last two series read 23* off 12, 25 off 16, 51 off 28, 24* off 8 and 24* off 13. Dre Russ has over 6000 runs in T20 cricket at an average of 27 and strike rate of 170.
Babar Azam is one of the best batters in the world in all three formats of the game. The Pakistan skipper has amassed 2153 runs in 55 T20I innings at an exceptional average of 47 and strike rate of 131, including one century. Babar has been in a good run of form, finishing at the top of the batting charts in the PSL 2021 with 554 runs at an average of 69. Babar carried that form on the England tour, scoring 158 in the third ODI, followed by a 49-ball-85 in the first T20I.
Mohammad Rizwan has seen a remarkable transformation in white-ball cricket since he started opening in the shortest format. Rizwan has cemented his place as Pakistan’s first-choice wicket-keeper batter. In the PSL 2021, Rizwan was the second-highest run-scorer behind Babar, with 500 runs in 12 matches. He followed that up with a terrific series in England, where he scored 176 runs in three innings at an average of 88 with two half centuries. Rizwan has been incredible in T20Is this year, amassing 706 runs at an unbelievable average of 101 while striking at 141.
Prediction
The rivalry has been rather one-sided. In 14 matches, these two teams have faced each other, Pakistan leads the scoreline by 11-3. But history could have no bearing on the present.
The West Indies are stronger and a very settled side with most of the bases covered. Their batting has immense depth, and the likes of Pollard, Russell, and Allen have been terrific down the order. The bowling department has looked potent, with the likes of Bravo, McCoy and Walsh Jr all being wicket-takers.
Pakistan, on the other hand, has some issues to deal with, including their middle order. They haven’t been able to find the right batting order. They also need to figure out a way to balance the squad.
If the Kensington Oval pitch is anything similar to what we saw in the ODI series against Australia, this match could turn out to be a feast for bowlers.
