For two sides which often relied on individual brilliance and eye-catching cricketers in the past, their contrasting fortunes make for an interesting reading. While Misbah ul Haq has led Pakistan onto the pedestal in Tests, their limited-overs form seems to be scraping the barrel. On the other hand, West Indies have made T20s their forte and shown signs of getting back into the groove in ODIs as well, even as the sport’s traditional format continues to elude them.
With a fascinating tour kick starting in the shortest format, they will have an opportunity to get themselves acquainted to the testing UAE conditions. The first couple of T20Is have been scheduled to take place in Dubai before the series rounds off in Abu Dhabi. Let us take a look at five players who can influence the contests with their game-changing abilities.
#5 Samuel Badree
A leg-spinner who has it in him to stifle batsmen by keeping things tight is an invaluable commodity in an era of powerful ball striking and shortening boundaries. In that regard, there are very few better then Samuel Badree in shaping matches with his stifling style of operation aside from prising out crucial breakthroughs. Added to the fact that Pakistan have a recurring issue against wrist spin may also heighten the Trinidadian's importance.
Also Read: 'Dangerous' Pakistan are a very similar team to West Indies, says Samuel Badree
From 30 matches, he has picked up 40 wickets at an average of 15.50. However, it is his parsimonious economy rate of 5.53 which makes him a rare threat during different stages of the innings.
#4 Sharjeel Khan
Armed with swift hand-eye coordination and static feet, Sharjeel Khan’s presence at the top of the order comes across as a breath of fresh air for Pakistan who are finding it tough to adapt their strategies to the rapidly evolving white-ball formats. The burly left-hander is aware of his strong points and does not try to veer away from them irrespective of the situation at hand.
But, as always, such a method can be susceptible to plenty of risks. In particular against the turning ball, Sharjeel’s lack of nimble footwork might place him under a spot of bother if the opposition focus their energy on blocking his scoring areas.
#3 Evin Lewis
After laboring to a seven-ball duck during his debut game against Afghanistan at the World T20, Evin Lewis’ chances of breaking into an already packed West Indies T20 team looked rather bleak. But, he more than made amends with a powerful knock in the opening T20I in Florida. On an even paced surface, the southpaw carted India’s bowlers all around the park in a menacing 49-ball century which included 9 sixes.
Also Read: Evin Lewis – 5 things you probably didn't know about him
Though conditions in the Middle East might be a bit sluggish and hence not be too conducive for such belligerent stroke-play, Lewis will be a key factor for the tourists with his stable base and natural timing.
#2 Umar Akmal
One of the most enigmatic batsmen in the last few years, Umar Akmal’s talent has never been under question – well, if the term is associated with playing delightful shots. However, the right-hander’s inability to etch out meaningful knocks on a regular basis prevents him from making a mark at the international level.
Having been overlooked for the England tour due to a lack of discipline both on and off the field, the T20I series presents an opportunity to regain his place in the set-up.
If Umar manages to recapture his form and goes on to have a memorable time, then Pakistan’s middle-order woes could be alleviated to a considerable extent. With plenty at stake for him, the Lahore-born cricketer’s response will be enthralling to see.
#1 Dwayne Bravo
Aside from endearing himself to the fans with his entertaining demeanor, Dwayne Bravo is carving a solid reputation as a genuine finisher in both departments of the game. The 32-year old plies his trade in almost every part of the world and thus has become well versed in various situations within the 20-overs format.
The pin-point final over to deny a set KL Rahul and the seasoned MS Dhoni at Florida rams rams home his propensity to turn the game around on its head.
An explosive batsman who can find the boundary with minimal effort, Bravo has time and again chipped in at the business stages of an innings by delivering quite a few lusty blows to snatch the momentum for his team. Having never played an international fixture in the UAE before, the all-rounder would be keen on making an instant impact in the series.
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