Pakistan’s tour to West Indies formally kicks off on Sunday at the Kensisgton Oval in Barbados, with the first T20. The matches will then move to Trinidad & Tobago.
Both Pakistan and West Indies have finalised their squads for the T20 series, and for the visitors there will be many familiar faces that they would have encountered in the PSL.
Pakistan squad:
Sarfraz Ahmed, (capt) Ahmad Shahzad, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Fakhar Zaman, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Rumman Raees, Usman Khan Shinwari
West Indies squad:
Carlos Brathwaite (capt), 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, Keswick Williams.
The most striking among those making a comeback is Pollard, whose exploits for the Karachi Kings left their mark on the second season of the PSL.
This will be the first full series that Sarfraz would lead Pakistan in. It would be a stern test against the World Champs
Simmons, Narine and Badree are also back in the squad - the latter two playing for Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United respectively. Peshawar Zalmi’s PSL-winning Samuels is also in the squad. This is as close to a full-strength West Indies side as they’ve fielded since winning the World T20 last year.
Pakistan’s transition will enter a crucial phase with a multitude of PSL graduates on display: Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Rumman Raees and Usman Khan Shinwari, the latest batch.
All four have a chance to be in the starting 11, especially the former two. Fakhar Zaman epitomises the modern-day T20 batsman and needs to transfer his impressive showings to the international stage. While Shadab, arguably the most exciting of the four, has all the making of a star all-rounder. While he has the batting required for modern game, it’s his bowling that is garnering more applause. He needs to continue concealing his googly well, for that continues to be his trump card.
Two other old-timers who have performed in the PSL to make their comebacks are Ahmed Shehzad and Kamran Akmal. They might form the opening partnership as well - especially with Sharjeel Khan suspended.
Ahmed Shehzad
Babar Azam should be number 3. While there was unanimous applause for Azam following his performances in the PSL this year, there still is a lot of room for improvement as far as his T20 game is concerned. The strike-rate that fluctuates around the 110-115 mark needs to go up at least to the 120s if he is to become a world class T20 batsman.
Mohammad Nawaz, the find of the first PSL, has struggled to replicate that form internationally and even in the PSL. Barring his heroic final over that helped the Quetta Gladiators edge Zalmi out in the Qualifier, Nawaz hasn’t contributed much. His batting especially has been a letdown, and with others knocking the door he needs to up his game to maintain international selection.
Imad Wasim, the designated all-rounder as things stand, hasn’t fared much better with the bat either. Should Shadab express himself well with the bat, he might even displace Imad as the number one spin-bowling all-rounder - should he maintain the grip on his bowling.
Among the pacers, Hasan Ali is the future and the present for Pakistan in the shorter, but especially the shortest format. With Mohammed Amir rested, he has the opportunity to establish himself as the spearhead for the T20 attack, one year after his promotion from the PSL.
Of course this poses a stern test to Sarfraz’s captaincy as well. He’s two-for-two in the couple of one-off matches that he has played against the two WT20 finalists last year. The four-match series will be his first full series and a gauge of where he stands, as he gets ready to take over the ODI side as well.
