West Indies team arrives to avoid wooden spoon on WTC table

ISLAMABAD: West Indies cricketers have arrived in the federal capital for the two-match Test series in a bid to avoid wooden spoon on the ICC World Test Championship (2023-2025) points table.

Both Pakistan and West Indies are at the bottom of the points table with Pakistan at No 7 with 30.30 points while West Indies at No 8 with 24.24 points. West Indies require a clean sweep to avoid the wooden spoon while for Pakistan a draw would be enough to avoid the agony of finishing last on the table.

West Indies team reached Islamabad on Monday morning to figure in the only side match ahead of the Test series scheduled to start in Multan from January 17. The three-day match against Pakistan Shaheens will get underway at the Islamabad Club Ground from January 10.

Pakistan Shaheens are to train at the Pindi Stadium starting from today (Tuesday). West Indies team members will take much-deserved rest following a long flight. “Pakistan Shaheens will start their training at the Pindi Stadium from Tuesday. West Indies team members will take rest for the next two days before having their first full training session on Wednesday at the Pindi Stadium,” a PCB official, when contacted, said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan are expected to follow the same pattern of pitch preparation for the two-match series against West Indies that was there for England during the last two matches in the recently held Test series. Pakistan spin duo of Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali ran through the England batting line-up in both Test matches to give Pakistan a 2-1 series win. West Indies also enjoy good spin options led by Gudakesh Motie and Jomel Warrican to exploit the expected spin conditions at the Multan Stadium.

Pakistan Shaheens squad for side match: Imam-ul-Haq (captain), Ahmed Bashir, Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Ali Zaryab, Haseebullah, Hussain Talat, Kashif Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Suleman, Musa Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Rohail Nazir, and Saad Khan.

West Indies Test squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Amir Jangoo, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair and Jomel Warrican.