West Indies and Pakistan set for the start of the One Day series in St. Lucia
Pakistan and the West Indies are set to start their five match One Day International series at Gros Islet St. Lucia today. The two teams met in the one-off Twenty20 match at the same venue on Thursday and it was the hosts who prevailed by 7 runs in a closely
fought match which provided some enthralling cricket.
The hosts would be hoping to carry on in the same vein and upset the apple cart for the Men in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Green-c60723, who sent them packing out of the ICC World Cup 2011 with a brutal 10-wicket mauling in the quarterfinal at Mirpur last month. On that day, the Pakistani
spinners weaved a spell around the Windies, sending them packing for a dismal total of 112 runs before overhauling the paltry target without losing a single wicket.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76900 sharing 8 of the 10 West Indian wickets.
Before the start of the series, the West Indian Cricket Board has much on its plate. Former captain and flamboyant opening batsmen, Chris Gayle has joined the Bangalore team in the ongoing Indian Premier League after claiming that the Board had not contacted
him ever since the ICC World Cup.
Gayle added that he had been disrespected off late despite his passion for West Indies cricket and his outstanding record over the years. He came out all guns blazing at the governing board in a recent interview with a radio station in Jamaica.
“I have served West Indies for many years, but I was disrespected a lot, and I have been playing under a lot of pressure. I can't sleep properly. I need to get this off my chest. I want everybody to print what I said, I want to clear the air and I want them
to ease up. WICB… back up offa my back,” Gayle stated.
On the other hand, Pakistan has also left out some of the leading members of the team including the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Younis-Khan-c98325 and Kamran Akmal.
Even captain of the team, Shahid Afridi had not wanted to tour the Caribbean as he wanted rest after the grueling World Cup; the dashing all-rounder was only persuaded into touring by his relatives and friends.
“I had decided to skip the tour because I wanted to take a break from the game, but some former players and my family and friends told me to change my decision at this crucial time for Pakistan cricket.” stated Afridi.
Meanwhile, the two squads are set to retain the core of the teams that played in the shortest format of the game on Thursday. Pakistan is likely to replace left arm fast bowler Junaid Khan with seasoned first class performer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tanvir-Ahmed-c92718 who made a promising
start to his test career against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, taking a six-wicket haul in the match played at Abu Dhabi.
Here are the possible teams that likely to take the field today.
West Indies (possible): 1. Devon Smith, 2. Lendl Simmons, 3. Darren Bravo, 4. Marlon Samuels, 5. Kirk Edwards, 6. Dwayne Bravo, 7. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Carlton-Baugh-c49264 (wk), 8. Darren Sammy (capt), 9. Devendra Bishoo, 10. Kemar Roach, 11.
Ravi Rampaul
Pakistan (possible): 1. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wahab-Riaz-c2775, 10. Tanvir Ahmed, 11. Saeed
Ajmal
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