Pakistan vs West Indies: Masood aims to end 2023-25 WTC cycle on a high

Pakistan is set to take on the West Indies in a two-match Test series, starting January 17 at the Multan Cricket Stadium, as they aim to conclude the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle on a high note.

The West Indies will play a Test match in Pakistan for the first time since December 2006.

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood said the two-Test series was significant for Pakistan, who finished sixth and seventh in the first two WTC cycles.

“This is our last Test series in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle, and we would like to finish it on a winning note. Every match in this format holds great importance, and we are committed to giving it our all to end the campaign with a memorable series win,” Masood said at a press conference on Thursday.

“West Indies are a decent side with a lot of talented players. They bring a unique style to the game, and we know they will push us hard. Test cricket is about adapting to challenges, and as a team, we are prepared to respond to whatever comes our way,” he added.

Masood believes that the Test series win against England in October last year wioll serve as a morale booster for his side despite losing to South Africa 2-0 away from home recently.

“The series win against England at home has given us a lot of confidence and momentum. We are fully focused on putting in strong performances and carrying forward that winning attitude,” the Pakistan skipper added.

The visitors are currently placed at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship table, while Pakistan are one position above them in eight.

In the last Test series between the two sides on Pakistan soil, Inzamam-ul-Haq led the home side to a 2-0 win in three-match Test series.

“We are very excited to be here in Pakistan, I personally had never come to Pakistan before and probably majority of players are also touring for the first time and we are really looking forward to doing well in the series. Pakistan is a strong side at home, so we look forward to doing well in these conditions,” Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said.

“Our team’s performance will be quite crucial here, and obviously putting runs on the board is important but taking 20 wickets will be the key to win the Test match.

“Our preparations are going well, we had few days in Islamabad where we played a practice game which went quite good for us as a group and we had our sessions here in Multan which were helpful as well.”

Pakistan deployed industrial fans and patio heaters to dry out the Multan pitch and secure their series win against England after heavy rain.

They are ready to use the same tactic again if needed, with the second Test also to be played in Multan from January 25.

The tourists had a taste of those conditions in their drawn three-day practice game in Islamabad, where Alick Athanaze hit half centuries in both innings and newcomer Amir Jangoo scored an unbeaten 63.

The last series between the two sides in the red-ball format was back in 2021 in West Indies, where the two-match series was drawn 1-1.

Squads:

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper/batter), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper/batter), Sajid Khan, and Salman Ali Agha.

West Indies 12 for the 1st Test: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alick Athanaze, Amir Jangoo (wicket-keeper), Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Keacy Carty, Kevin Sinclair, Mikyle Louis and Tevin Imlach