West Indies vs. Pakistan first ODI: Five players to watch out for

Pakistan began their tour of the West Indies with a seven-run win over Guyana in a practice match ahead of the five-match ODI series.

It was a competitive game that allowed Pakistan to adapt to the slow and dry conditions. Their batsmen especially required that bit of practice as they had a dismal Champions Trophy prior to this tour, where they failed to score 200 in any of the three matches they participated in. It was also an opportunity to test the balance of the side.

Pakistan lost the toss and were asked to bat by Guyana. Nasir Jamshed who opened the innings alongside Ahmed Shehzad departed early but his opening partner held fort. Captain Misbah-Ul-Haq promoted himself to number four giving an indication of what might happen when the series begins.

Except for Shehzad who scored a determined knock of 68 runs, all Pakistani batsmen failed to turn their starts into anything significant as the total was curtailed to 246 at the end of 50 overs.

Saeed Ajmal starred with the ball exploiting the spin available in the surface to pick up five wickets in the match. Md. Irfan chipped in with three wickets as well.

West Indies, on the other hand, enjoyed a couple of days of rest after India pipped them to the final of the tri-nations series final. West Indies had begun that tournament well with a couple of victories courtesy some brilliant individual performances by Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles but they failed to rise to the occasion at the Port of Spain as India and Sri Lanka made the final.

They have made a few changes to their squad for this series leaving out wicket-keeper Dinesh Ramdin, whereas Jason Holder comes in for the injured Ravi Rampaul.

Here is a list of five players who will make a difference to the eventual result of the first ODI to be played on Sunday:

Misbah ul-Haq

5. Misbah ul-Haq

The Pakistan captain had come under intense pressure during the Champions Trophy due to his position in the batting order. Playing in the lower middle-order he found himself more often than not trying to resurrect a failing innings.

He promoted himself to number four in the practice match against Guyana and is likely to do the same against the West Indies on Sunday.

He was Pakistan’s only player who showed some resistance in the trying conditions of England at the Champions Trophy, finishing with two half-centuries in three matches and a batting average of over 86.50.

He certainly has the ability to anchor the innings for Pakistan and a top-order batting position will also allow him to pace his innings according to his own wishes.

Johnson Charles

4. Johnson Charles

The right-handed batsman had a good tri-nation series, scoring a match-winning knock of 97 against India in the early part of the tournament.

He scored 185 runs in the four matches that he played at an average of 46.25. He forms a formidable opening partnership with Chris Gayle and has matched him with his aggressive stroke-making.

He has an unorthodox style of batting as he does not have a substantial backlift but is still able to generate a massive amount of power with it.

He has good cricketing sense as he tries to play as straight as possible in the initial overs when the ball is swinging.

He will be put under immense pressure by the likes of Md. Irfan, Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz. It will be an exciting challenge for the batsman who is never shy for a battle.

Md. Irfan

3. Md. Irfan

Pakistan boast of a well-rounded bowling attack with competent fast bowlers who have the asset of speed and the art of swing in their repertoire and two quality off-spinners.

West Indies will have to respond with runs to the challenge posed by this bowling department in order to have any chance of winning the series. A significant part of that said challenge will be posed by a 7ft 1 inch tall fast bowler by the name of Md. Irfan, who has made a late but successful entry at the international stage.

The high-release point matched with breathtaking pace and accuracy makes him a lethal bowler. In the 14 one-day matches that he has appeared in, he has taken 20 wickets at an economy of just below 5.00 runs per over.

He took three wickets in the practice game against Guyana and hence will be high on confidence.

Saeed Ajmal

2. Saeed Ajmal

The off-spinner has been in red-hot form for the last two years or so and has not put a foot wrong. He has matured with his years and has tasted success against all oppositions around the world.

Unlike most spinners plying their trade in world cricket today, Saeed Ajmal is a wicket-taker and genuine match-winner. He can fracture the back-bone of any batting line-up on his day with his sharp cricketing brain and his variations.

The wrong-one that he has developed masterfully is his main wicket-taking weapon and it enhances the return of his stock off-spin delivery since the batsman is caught in two minds. He bowls an accurate line that means that he can execute more modes of dismissals.

Chris Gayle

1. Chris Gayle

India developed a tactic to dismiss Chris Gayle by using the swing of Bhuvneshwar Kumar to cramp him for room and that is the right way of going about business when dealing with the explosive batsman.

A casual approach might be counter-productive as he proved in the opening match of the tri-nation series when Sri Lanka tried to pepper him with with a mixed bag of bouncers and yorkers.

He has the ability to swing a match to his team’s favour within a space of few overs. He has often been criticized for his inability to replicate the form for the national side that he shows in T-20 league tournaments and so he will be walking in with an intent to defy his critics.