PAK vs WI | 1st ODI | Preview, Prediction, Probable XI, CREX XI

International cricket returns to Pakistan as they host the West Indies in the first ODI of the three-match series, scheduled to start from tomorrow (June 8th) at Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan. 

The City of Saints - Multan - will be hosting an international game after more than fourteen years as Pakistan come up against West Indies in the first ODI on Wednesday. The Babar Azam led side will be back in action after a two-month break since their last outing against Australia in March. 

PCB announced a 16-member squad for this three-match series earlier last month, with Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Haider Ali and Usman Qadir missing out. However, Shadab Khan is back as the vice-captain along with Mohammad Nawaz, who could not participate in the last ODIs against Australia.

Pakistan won their last ODI series by 2-1 against Australia in March. Imam-ul-Haq scored two back to back centuries and finished with 298 runs in the series. He will be opening the innings with Fakhar Zaman. Babar Azam was the player of the series against Australia and will be back in action at no three. 

Mohammad Rizwan is back from the UK and will be batting in the middle order alongside Iftikhar Ahmed. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf will lead the pace attack, with Hasan Ali, who was in top form for Lancashire in the ongoing County Championship.  

Meanwhile, West Indies are coming off a 3-0 clean sweep in the recently concluded ODI series against the Netherlands. Shai Hope and Brandon King were back among the runs, with Shamarh Brooks finishing the series as a top scorer. 

Brooks scored 167 runs in three games which included an unbeaten century in the third ODI. After Kieron Pollard's sudden retirement from International Cricket, it was also Nicholas Pooran's first series as the full-time captain.

Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd are available for the series opener in Multan after missing out on the Netherlands ODIs due to visa issues.

As these three ODIs are part of ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League, with World Cup qualification on the line, Pakistan will be looking to grab all the 30 points and improve their position in the points table, having slotted in 10th position with 60 points at the moment. 

On the other hand, West Indies made it to the top four after the series win over the Netherlands and would be looking to retain their top four spot, with very less number of games left in comparison to others. 

Match Details:

Match: Pakistan vs West Indies, 1st ODI

Venue: Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan

Date & Time: June 8th at 04:30 PM IST

Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network

Pitch Report: This will be the first ODI game at Multan Cricket Stadium after more than fourteen years. It has been a regularly hosting country's domestic cricket. 

The pitch has very contrasting behaviours in each of the last five List A games played here. Considering it will be a fresh wicket at the start of the three-match series, the team winning the toss should bowl first. The average first innings total in the last five 50-over games is 244.

Head-To-Head:

Matches played: 134

Pakistan Won: 60

West Indies Won: 71

Tie: 3

Squads:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mahmood.

West Indies: Nicholas Pooran (c), Shai Hope (wk), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Shermon Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr.

Probable Playing XI:

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Nawaz.

West Indies: Shai Hope (wk), Shamarh Brooks, Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph, Hayden Walsh Jr.

CREX XI Suggestion:

Wicket-Keeper: Shai Hope, Mohammad Rizwan, Nicholas Pooran

Batters: Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Brandon King

All-Rounders: Kyle Mayers, Shadab Khan

Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Alzarri Joseph

Captain: Babar Azam

Vice-Captain: Shaheen Afridi