The schedule of three tests, three One Day Internationals (ODI) and three T20s is just enough to whet the appetite and not enough to make one feel as if one is being saturated with the monotony.
Despite the upheavals here in the West Indies, the most recent being the sacking of coach Phil Simmons, on the eve of the team’s departure for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), fans in the region are looking forward to this series with gusto.
There are so many plots and sub plots involved with the West Indies vs Pakistan series which commences tomorrow will certainly make for `must watch’ television if only because of the unpredictable nature of both teams.
Test cricket might be losing its appeal but one is not sure that Pakistan captain Misbah ul-Haq will agree. He has been credited with guiding Pakistan to the top of the test cricket rankings, his team going undefeated since August 2014 and he is obviously not content to rest on his and his team’s laurels.
“For us the number one ranking is not a destination but part of a journey. Our long term objective and strategy is to remain competitive, continue to challenge the top sides with good cricket, and once again become the most followed side like the Pakistan teams of yesteryears,” was his take.
Seems as if the West Indies team is taking the opposite approach or maybe it’s just that the results do not reflect their goals but they have occupied the bottom echelons of the ICC test rankings for years.
As such the contest between the ICC’s number one and number eight test teams should be a foregone conclusion given the fact that Pakistan teams have enjoyed tremendous success in the UAE.
Except for one thing, the unpredictable play of both teams and the fact that cricket as they say is a game of glorious uncertainties.
Of course, that is, a positive outlook. The more realistic view of the upcoming three test series which will have one day/night test included is that the West Indies team will be hard pressed to even draw the series.
The team has not yet been selected but the captain Jason Holder will be playing with the words of chairman of the selection panel Courtney Browne uppermost in his mind.
With many expecting Holder to go the way of Simmons he has been granted a reprieve, reprimanded and told to get his act together or words to that effect.
According to a report in the Trinidad Guardian, Holder was given a “serious dressing down” by Browne during a frank talk between the two.
The report also stated that Holder was given notice that he could be stripped of the captaincy since there were some speculation over whether he merited his place in the team apart from being the captain.
As skipper Holder is yet to win or even draw a series. He has lost to India, Australia and Sri Lanka and a series defeat yet again could spell the end of his captaincy without a doubt.
Since Brian Lara’s retirement and Shiv Chanderpaul’s forced ouster the team has not had a batsman of such pedigree and the batting will rely heavily on opener Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo and the mercurial Marlon Samuels.
The test series might not be compelling but should be just gripping enough for two teams neither one of which will be playing at home, although Pakistan has played so many series in the UAE that they might just consider it a home away from home.
The ODIs though should be another matter. Holder has been named captain but all eyes will no doubt be on the promising teenager Alzarri Joseph who shot to prominence at this year’s Youth World Cup won by the West Indies.
One would have hoped that Sir Curtly Ambrose would have been able to steer Joseph in the right direction but he was given the boot as bowling coach earlier this year in a move that should have shocked no one given the administration that is charge of West Indies cricket.
Joseph apart, the WICB selectors selected Kraigg Brathwaite in the squad probably aimed at shoring up a batting department that is often prone to collapses which somehow seem to remind one of the phrase Calypso (or should that be `Collapso’) cricket.
The batting of the ODI and T20 teams will sorely miss Chris Gayle who is unavailable although Evin Lewis, fresh from his maiden T20 ton against India earlier this year, could be a good replacement at the top of the order partnering Johnson Charles. Kraigg Brathwaite, as an opening batsman, is also an option.
With Kieron Pollard back in the fray along with Marlon Samuels and Carlos Brathwaite the One Day and T20 teams have its fair share of power hitters although Samuels can be as classical, as he can be destructive.
Despite their number one test status, the Pakistan Cricket Board too has its share of problems.
Pakistan will be without Shahid Afridi for the T20s after the PCB decided to scupper moves for a farewell series for the all-rounder.
The Selection Committee head Inzamam ul-Haq had wanted to honour Afridi but the absence of board chairman Shaharyar Khan and executive committee head Najam Sethi prevented the move.
Azhar Ally has been retained as captain of the One Day side despite his team losing to England 1-4, a defeat that led to calls for his sacking.
However the absence of Shaharyar Khan (recuperating from surgery) meant that Ally was retained as captain of the one day side because according to the constitution of the PCB a decision to remove the captain can only be taken by the Board Chairman.
In terms of statistics, Pakistan has played the West Indies in 15 test series beginning in 1957/58.
The WI have won five, Pakistan four, with six series drawn including the last series in 2011, in the Caribbean.
In T20 Internationals, the West Indies won the single T20 match in 2011 in the Caribbean while the 2013 series in the West Indies was won 2-0 by Pakistan.
In ODIs, Pakistan and the West Indies have played 13 bilateral series. Pakistan has won seven, the West Indies, five, with one drawn.
Predictions, test series winner, Pakistan, One-Day and T20 series, West Indies.
