When Pakistan team and West Indies team step into the field to face each other, more than anyone else they would feel sorry for themselves and each other. West Indies was once a power house of cricket and Pakistan with its brand of cricket had always been a force to reckon with. Today, both the teams are sailing in the same boat languishing in the oblivion. They are facing challenges in every respect, be it bowling, fielding, batting, team composition and even in matters of discipline.
They are without their numero-uno bowler, Saeed Ajmal for Pakistan and Sunil Narine for West Indies. In addition to them, each team is missing other key experienced players in their line up. If Pakistan is missing the services of Mohammed Hafeez and Junaid Khan due to injuries, then West Indies are missing the match winners in Keiron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo for the reasons they better know. Both the teams recently are going through a form that they will not like to be reminded of. Pakistan have lost 11 of their past 13 ODIs and West Indies 7 of their past 8. Both the teams are coming into this match losing their opening match.
There ends the similarity.
West Indies is being led by Jason Holder, who without any doubt is the most inexperienced captain in the tournament. Whereas Pakistan is led by the vintage Misbah-ul-Haq, one of the most experienced captain in the tournament. If Misbah can be relied to provide stability, Jason finds himself in the scratchy form.
West Indies batting order looks settled, the only problem being whether they will fire and when they will fire. On the other hand, Pakistan is trying to find which slot would fit Younis Khan, who will open the innings, etc.
West Indies team composition also looks straight forward. They may retain the same side that played against Ireland. The only change that they may do would be to include a spinner in the squad. In that case there will be a toss up between Suleiman Benn and Nikita Miller. Suleiman Benn's selection will depend on his fitness. On the other hand Pakistan team selection is complex. Will Sarfaraz Ahmed keep the wickets? Will he then come in place of someone in the XI that played against India? Will they bring in specialist opener in Nasir Jamshed? If yes, will Younis Khan make way for him or Shoaib Maqsood? Will they play with two spinners in Afridi and Yasir or will go with just one spinner?
It may look like West Indies in a better position compared to Pakistan to go into the match. Even the overall statistics are in their favour. West Indies have won 68 of those 128 matches against Pakistan and six out of nine at World-Cups. But there is very little to choose between them.
Hagley Oval proved good for batting in the first innings of the tournament opener last Saturday, when New Zealand made 331 against Sri Lanka. So any team batting first should not think of any total less than 300. But looking at both the team's batting line up, it seems to be a big ask unless it is their day.
The loss in the opening game would have severely dented their confidence, though for different reasons. For Pakistan, loss against India is always a bitter pill to swallow. In case of West Indies, their loss to an upcoming associate is an indication of their slump. They would be required to overcome the mental scar they have suffered tomorrow. Both Zimbabwe and Ireland in the same group are pushing beyond their limits and there will not be any easy path forward for them in this tournament. Thus it is a must win match for both the teams to negate that factor. Yet there can be only one winner, hence Saturday's match takes on extra significance.
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