Windies seek to level T20 series against Pakistan

West Indies will face Pakistan in the second of the four-match T20 series at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair from 12.30 pm.

In the first match on Sunday at Kensington Oval in Barbados, Pakistan defeated West Indies by six wickets.

Last year the same teams faced each other in a T20, ODI and Test series in the United Arab Emirates. It was a tough time for West Indies as they lost the T20 and ODI series 3-0, while losing the Test series 2-1.

West Indies had no answers for the Pakistan spinners on Sunday, with debutant leg-break bowler Shadab Khan grabbing three for seven in four overs.

Brathwaite, talking to the media after a training session at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday said, “Pakistan (have) very good spinners, but we have seen progression from the UAE with regards to playing Imad Wasim and the same thing is in store for our plans against Shadab, who had an excellent debut. We are looking forward (to the game), we are upbeat, we are happy with the progression we have seen from the UAE, and we want to progress even more and come out on top in this game.” The West Indies skipper says the team must bat at a higher level during the middle overs, a problem that hindered the team in the first T20. Brathwaite said they must improve between overs six and 14.

“It is just a matter of getting six to 14 right. If we could have the first six, the last six and be a lot better between six and 14, we are sure we could put up 150 plus and that will give us a better fighting chance when we go to bowl.” In the first T20, West Indies were 35 for one after 6.2 overs, but were reduced to 49/6 after 10.5 overs.

Today is a public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago and Brathwaite is anticipating a huge crowd.

“We are pretty upbeat, we are expecting a very big crowd in Trinidad, we normally do well in Trinidad as well.” Brathwaite, who has struggled to find consistency after his heroic effort in the World T20 final last year, was happy to find form in the last match.

“It is always good to perform, you always prefer to perform and come out on the winning side, but unfortunately that did not happen. Hopefully my performance can be as good or even better, but the most important thing is the win at the end of the day.” Brathwaite struck an unbeaten 34 off 27 deliveries.

Squads: WEST INDIES: Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Samuel Badree, Jonathan Carter, Andre Fletcher, Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieron Pollard, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams.

PAKISTAN: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Rumman Raees, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan.