West Indies tour to Pakistan 2021 [Preview]

West Indies is scheduled to tour Pakistan in the month of December to play three T20Is and three ODI, starting from 13^th December at National Cricket Stadium in Karachi.

Pakistan have announced their T20I and ODI squads for the home series against Pakistan. Babar Azam will lead the side for the T20I and ODI series. Khushdil Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shahnawaz Dahani have been named in the ODI squad for the three-match series.

For the T20I series, the selection committee has gone with same group of players that featured for Pakistan in Bangladesh tour.

In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of Captain Babar Azam, wicket-keeper opening batsman Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali and Asif Ali to do the bulk of the scoring.

Wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan’s form has been nothing short of sensational this season. Since 1^st Jan 2021, Mohammad Rizwan has topped the batting charts for Pakistan in the 20-over format. In 27 T20Is played this year, Rizwan has accumulated 1,156 runs at an average of 77.06 with one century and one half-centuries to his name.

Besides Rizwan, Captain Babar Azam has proven to be a consistent performer at the top of the innings. In 27 matches played, Babar Azam has scored 853 runs at an average of 37.08 with one century and eight half-centuries to his name.

The team management will be hoping that the opening pair can continue their merry ways with the bat in the three-match T20I series.

In the bowling department, the side will be depending on the likes of Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi to deliver crucial breakthroughs in this all-important contest.

Since 1^st January 2021, Pacer Haris Rauf has shown excellent form for Pakistan in the T20 format. In 22 matches played, Rauf has claimed 22 wickets at an economy rate of 8.28. Besides Rauf, Left-arm quick has managed to deliver crucial breakthroughs in this T20I series.

With Kieron Pollard ruled out of the tour due to hamstring injury, Wicket-keeper batsman Nicholas Pooran has been named interim captain for the tour. Sheldon Cottrell, Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase have been tested positive for covid-19 and will miss the T20I series. The selectors have yet to name replacements for the trio for the three-match series.

In the batting department, the side will be relying on the likes of Brandon King, Shai Hope, Rovman Powell, Nicholas Pooran and Darren Bravo to deliver notable scores in this fixture.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein and Hayden Walsh Jr to deliver crucial breakthroughs.

The trio is expected to be available for the three-match ODI series, starts from 18^th December. The matches for the ODI and T20I series will be played at National Cricket Stadium in Karachi. The three-match T20I series will be played at Karachi on 13^th, 14^th and 16^th December. The culmination of the T20I series will see both teams lock horns in the ODI series, which will be played at the same venue on 18^th , 20^th, and 22^nd December.