PAK vs WI 2024/25, PAK vs WI first test match preview

Big picture: Expect a lot of changes in Multan

The timing of this series doesn’t exactly help raise its profile. It comes after the top two spots in the World Test Championship (WTC) have been decided at the end of the cycle. The West Indies are at the bottom of the standings, and Pakistan is only slightly ahead of them. This series was originally due to be held in January 2024 and would have had the potential to change a team’s cycle, but the T20Is against New Zealand replaced it. This time, in that larger competition, it’s little more than a basement battle.

However, at some distance from the WTC, there is more intrigue. The West Indies will play a Test in Pakistan after more than 18 years, although they played Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in the meantime. This series will be a continuation of the PCB’s experiment, which was so successful against England last year, to turn Pakistan’s pitches into spin-bowling havens. It was in Multan, where both Tests against the West Indies will be held, that this was first attempted. Pakistan has made no secret that it will look to replicate it there again, with heaters and a makeshift greenhouse making this look as much like cutting-edge horticulture as tar-making.

They also have the equipment, especially the bowlers, for these conditions. The express quicks were left out and Sajid Khan was again partnered by Noman Ali, as was Abrar Ahmed, who had missed the last two Tests against England due to illness. Shan Masood continues to lead the team. He will open the innings in a batting line-up that has also undergone changes. Abdullah Shafique’s loss of form and Saim Ayub’s injury have seen Masood rise up the rankings and also brought Imam-ul-Haq back into the fold.

But the spinning experiment might meet more resistance from the West Indies than from England. The latter tried to subdue Pakistan with the same arrogant belligerence that has served them well on flatter tracks, and ended up playing into the hosts’ hands. The West Indies are unlikely to follow suit, and while they do not possess a star-studded batting line-up, they will be fielding one that has experience in these conditions, as well as a spin attack that can potentially thrive in them.

However, West Indies are at the bottom of the WTC points table for a reason. Their results, both at home and away, have not been consistent enough. The thrilling victory over Australia in Brisbane seems a long time ago. This was followed by England sweeping them, a home series defeat against South Africa and a draw against Bangladesh.

They are aware that things must change and have already made an important call; Vice-captain Joshua Da Silva was dropped after a run of disappointing performances with the bat. However, Brathwaite and his team will know that their problems run deeper than that, and this series allows them, at the very least, a chance to dig themselves out of the deep end.

forms guide

Pakistan: LLWWL (last five tests, most recent first)
West Indies: LWLDL

In the spotlight: Saud Shakeel and Gudakesh Motie

Batsmen adept at negotiating conditions conducive to spin will be invaluable, and this is where Saud Shakeel comes in. In theory, Shakeel should thrive on the slow, low spin that Multan will provide. But, somewhat counterintuitively, he has suggested that he likes to play on faster wickets. And in Pakistan’s most recent Test in Multan against England, where spin was heavily favored, Shakeel scored 35 runs in two innings. Overall, though, he still averages over 50 in six innings at this ground, and if he can come close to matching that in what is likely to be a fast-paced, low-scoring game, he could well make a point of difference with the bat.

Few people should enjoy this series more than Gudakesh Motie. The perception that the West Indies have greater spin ability than England makes preparing slow-spinning tracks potentially riskier than against England, and Pakistan will be more cautious with the orthodox left-arm spinner. Nine tests later, Motie’s ceiling is still to be determined, but his height gives him plenty of options to work on surfaces conducive to his skill set. Motie has a better bowling average than Sajid and almost the same as Noman (Pakistan’s most potent threat in these conditions against England), even if 19 of his 28 wickets have come against Zimbabwe.

Team news: Roach unwell, Da Silva down

Pakistan are yet to name an XI, although, unsurprisingly, the effects are expected to be very significant.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Shan Masood (captain), 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Kamran Ghulam, 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Salman Agha, 8 Noman Ali, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Abrar Ahmed, 11 Khurram Shahzad

Kemar Roach is unwell, while Anderson Phillip is also unlikely to be picked in what will be a spin-heavy West Indies team. In Roach’s absence, their seam attack will be led by Jayden Seales. Meanwhile, Da Silva has been dropped, and wicketkeeper-batsman Amir Jangoo is almost ready to make his debut.

West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), 2 Mikyle Louis, 3 Justin Greaves, 4 Keacy Carty/Tevin Imlach, 5 Alick Athanaze, 6 Kavem Hodge, 7 Amir Jangoo (wk), 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Kevin Sinclair, 10 Jomel Warrican, 11 Jayden Seales

Field and conditions

This is the question, right? Pakistan continues to rage against the elements, determined to dry out the surface of Multan in bitter cold by erecting a greenhouse in the square to heat the surface. This had never before been attempted here in January, although Pakistan managed to bend the Rawalpindi surface against England to their will in October. If they succeed once again, expect a significant turn from the beginning and for the turn to run almost through the test without pause. Meanwhile, the weather is expected to be bitterly cold.

Statistics and curiosities

Kraigg Brathwaite is 99 runs away from surpassing Richie Richardson’s Test tally and 149 runs away from becoming the 10th West Indies batsman to score 6,000 Test runs.
In the last Test these two teams played in Multan in November 2006, only 27 wickets fell in over 439 overs and five days, with over 1400 runs scored.

Quotes

“Home conditions are very important in Test cricket. We have adopted a certain style of play and pitch preparation, and we want to build on the momentum from the England series.”
Shan Masood urges consistency on your part

“We have adapted well – similar conditions to Islamabad. [where the warm-up game was held]. “We have acclimatized and we are looking forward to the tests.”
Kraigg Brathwaite believes that the conditions will not be very different from those of the three-day warm-up match

Danyal Rasool is Pakistan correspondent for Pak Gazette. @danny61000