Rizwan Confident of ODI Success in Testing Caribbean Conditions
TRINIDAD: Pakistan’s ODI skipper Mohammad Rizwan is optimistic ahead of the upcoming three-match One-Day International series against the West Indies, which kicks off on Friday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
In a video message released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Rizwan voiced his satisfaction with the team’s preparations and readiness to take on the challenge.
Highlighting the importance of starting the series on a positive note, the right-hander spoke about the balance between rising stars and seasoned players in the squad.
“We aim to give our best in the ODI format, and this away series in challenging Caribbean conditions will be a great test for our young side,” Rizwan said.
“We have some exciting youngsters like Sufyan Moqim and Hassan Nawaz, who are determined to showcase their skills in 50-over cricket,” he added.
Acknowledging the difficulty of playing the West Indies at home, the wicketkeeper-batter said:
“Facing them in their own conditions is always tough. With the blessings of the Almighty, we hope to express ourselves with both bat and ball and win the series. They also have some talented players, which should make for competitive cricket.”
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy will be hosting just its second men’s ODI, the first having been played in 2023 between West Indies and India.
The series opener will be a day-night encounter starting at 2:00 pm local time (11:00 pm Pakistan time), while the remaining two matches will be day games, beginning at 9:30 am local time (6:30 am Pakistan time).
Pakistan and West Indies have clashed in 137 ODIs, with the Caribbean side winning 71 matches and Pakistan emerging victorious in 63. Three games — in 1991, 1993, and 2013 — ended in ties. The two teams first met in the 1975 Cricket World Cup. In bilateral series, Pakistan have claimed 11 wins compared to West Indies’ six, while the 1993 five-match series was drawn 2-2. West Indies last defeated Pakistan in an ODI series back in November 1991.
The Pakistan team reached Trinidad on August 5 after sealing a 2-1 T20I series triumph in Lauderhill, Florida, and have since completed two training sessions.
The 15-man squad features uncapped batter Hassan Nawaz, while opener Fakhar Zaman has been sidelined due to a left hamstring strain suffered during the second T20I.
Rizwan, who has led Pakistan in 17 ODIs to date, joined the squad in Florida along with Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, and Naseem Shah before flying to Trinidad.
Currently, Pakistan sit fourth in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings, with West Indies occupying 10th place.
Pakistan squad:
Mohammad Rizwan (captain & wicketkeeper), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
