West Indies vs Pakistan Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile ODI Series
— Holder places high emphasis on World Cup qualification
by Akeem Greene
West Indies and Pakistan One-Day International teams arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timerhi at around 14:00h on Monday to a warm welcome by corporate sponsor Digicel and representatives of the Guyana Cricket Board; (GCB) Vice-President Fizul Bacchus and Treasurer Anand Kalladeen.
West Indies captain Jason Holder
The arrival is ahead of the three-match series which begins on Friday at the National Stadium, Providence and both camps have placed high importance on winning since they are in a battle for direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup which will be held in England.
On the current International Cricket Council (ICC) 50-over team rankings, of the twelve ranked teams Pakistan are in eighth place with a 89 ranking points while the Caribbean side are in ninth with 84 ranking points.
Only the top eight teams at this year’s September 30 cut-date will gain automatic qualification into the main draw. West Indies have already missed the upcoming Champions Trophy in England due to their current ranking.
In this regard, West Indies Captain Jason Holder felt the series is quite significant considering where they languish in the rankings which makes a positive start is vital.
“I’m sure it will be a good series, both teams have lots to play for; we obviously need to get ahead on our point standings in terms of the ICC rankings, it is just a situation where we need to start the series well and get out ahead, it is a short series so I think the quicker we start well, is the better off we will be,” said the captain who has failed to win a bilateral 50-over series since his appointment in 2014.
He added, “the game is very crucial, we just need to play each game as it comes; we need to start the series well and once we do that we can put Pakistan under pressure.”
Just last month, the home side were whitewashed by England in the three-match series, which sees the Barbadian duo of Kraigg and Carlos Braithwaite being omitted from the current 13-man squad, a squad which the skipper believes “has what it takes to beat Pakistan if they play good cricket.”
When Pakistan toured the Caribbean in 2013, leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took career best figures of 7 for 12 at Providence, routing the home side for paltry total. The team returns with another nemesis wrist spinner Shadab Khan.
During the recently concluded four-match Twenty20 series which they lost 3-1, the teenager who made his debut in the first match ended the series with 10 wickets, at economy rate of below five and caused serious trouble for the batsmen.
The Barbadian in commenting on the possible impact of the spinner disclosed, “He has caused some trouble in the T20 series, it is a new format, we have some fresh faces coming for the first time, it is important that they see him and we have some video footage of him and it is important that everyone comes up with their personal plan on how they are going to play him.”
When the two teams met in an ODI series on West Indies tour of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E), Pakistan won the series 3-0. It is the first Pakistan tour of the West Indies since 2013 – when Pakistan won a five-match ODI series 3-1.
West Indies squad reads: Jason Holder (Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jonathan Carter, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell, Chadwick Walton.
