Pakistan look to seal direct spot in World Cup

KARACHI: Pakistan know the importance of their three-match One-day International (ODI) series against the West Indies which gets underway at Providence (Guyana) from Friday.

The tourists also know that the West Indians are a bit down, something that was evident in the manner with which Pakistan outclassed the home team in the recently-concluded Twenty20 International series in Trinidad.

Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan’s captain, will be hoping that his team will capitalise on the momentum to whitewash the West Indians as a 3-0 result will help his team in its goal of securing an automatic qualification for World Cup 2019 to be held in England.

The Pakistan are currently ranked at No 8 in the ICC’s ODI rankings, holding the final automatic qualification spot for the 2019 World Cup; West Indies are in ninth, with five ranking points separating the sides. The West Indians have to beat Pakistan otherwise the former champions — who will be absent from this year’s Champions Trophy — will struggle to catch them ahead of September’s cut-off. A failure to win the series will leave West Indies with the prospect of having to come through the ICC Qualifier.

The Pakistanis look favourites to win against a home team that has failed to click in recent times.

But the visitors are taking nothing for granted. They began their preparations soon after reaching Georgetown which will host all three games of the ODI series.

Having won the four-match T20 series 3-1, the Pakistanis also held a team meeting as they discussed ways and means to conquer West Indies in the 50-over format as well.

Well-placed sources told ‘The News’ that coach Mickey Arthur and other team officials have been working hard with the players in a bid to get the best out of them.

In addition, the players, especially the younger ones, are also getting a lot of pep talk from team officials and senior team-mates.

Pakistan will be without regular ODI opener Sharjeel Khan, who is facing a life ban over alleged corruption during the second season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) held in February-March.

Sarfraz has in the recent past described Sharjeel’s absence as a big loss but the captain is hopeful that comeback batsman Ahmed Shehzad will fill a gaping hole left by the big-hitting left-hander. Shehzad finally returned to form with a match-winning fifty in the final Twenty20 International in Port of Spain on Sunday. Pakistan also have the option of bringing in seasoned batsman Kamran Akmal in the playing eleven for the One-dayers.