Fakhar Replaced, Babar Azam At 3; Naseem To Sit Out? Pakistan’s Probable XI For 1st ODI Vs WI

Pakistan will take on WI in 1st ODI [Source: AFP]

After securing an emphatic 2-1 win in the T20I series, Pakistan are set to face the West Indies in a three-match ODI leg. The first game of the much-anticipated series will be played on Friday at the picturesque Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. 

Pakistan suffered a massive setback ahead of the series, with Fakhar Zaman being sidelined from the ODIs due to an injury. Despite the batter's unavailability, the Men in Green have a robust squad that can give the hosts a run for their money. 

As the stage is set for a riveting series opener, let's analyse and find out what should be Pakistan's lineup for this encounter. 

Abdullah Shafique To Replace Injured Fakhar Zaman

Swashbuckling opening batter Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the ODI series against the West Indies. His injury gives Abdullah Shafique a lifeline amid the batter's recent struggles in ODI cricket. 

Since 1st January 2024, Shafique has been inconsistent in ODIs, managing 266 runs across twelve innings at an average of 26.6 and a strike rate of 67.85. These are mediocre numbers; however, with Fakhar being sidelined, the right-handed batter will get another chance to prove his mettle in the format. 

He will open the batting with Saim Ayub, who showcased sublime form in the T20I series. Apart from scoring brisk runs at the top, Ayub can chip in with a few overs of finger-spin on the spin-friendly Caribbean decks. 

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Babar, Rizwan, Agha Salman To Form Pakistan’s Batting Core

(ODI stats of Babar, Rizwan and Agha Salman at 3, 4 and 5)

Meanwhile, ace batter Babar Azam will likely bat at his preferred number three slot, followed by skipper Mohammad Rizwan and his deputy, Agha Salman, at 4 and 5, respectively. 

These three players form Pakistan's batting core, having performed admirably at those positions. This series will mark Babar and Rizwan's return to white-ball cricket, giving them an opportunity to present their case for a T20I comeback ahead of the Asia Cup. 

On the other hand, Agha Salman has been excellent as an all-rounder in ODIs (1054 runs, 16 wickets). He will definitely be a vital cog with bat and ball for Pakistan in this match. 

After their failed experiments with Tayyab Tahir and Kamran Ghulam, Pakistan should try out Hussain Talat over the promising Hasan Nawaz at number six. 

Talat has been a proven performer in the domestic circuit, having amassed 3308 runs at an average of 41.87 and a strike rate of 92.22. On the contrary, Hasan has just five List-A games under his belt and might not get the first preference for the vacant spot down the order. 

Why could Pakistan prefer Nawaz over Faheem as all-rounder?

There could be a toss-up between Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf for the all-rounder's slot at seven. Nawaz might emerge as the winner in this race due to his recent bowling exploits in the T20I leg and a superior ODI record compared to Faheem.  

Will Naseem’s Recent ODI Form Sideline Him?

While Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali seem like certain starters in Pakistan's fast bowling department, Naseem Shah's recent ODI form raises question marks about his place. 

Naseem seems to have lost the extra zip he had a few years back. His ODI numbers have significantly dipped since 2024, as mentioned in the table below. 

(Naseem Shah's ODI numbers have worsened since 2024)

The stats suggest that while Naseem has taken more than six overs to get a wicket, his inability to control the flow of runs has also affected the team. However, as this is the first match of the series and Pakistan don't have alternative options, the speedster should get a chance to feature in this clash. 

Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed, having bagged 15 wickets in nine ODIs, will likely be preferred over Sufiyan Muqeem, who has played only three ODIs, as the frontline spinner. 

Pakistan’s Probable XI For 1st ODI Vs West Indies

Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (WK/C), Agha Salman, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Abrar Ahmed

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