PAK vs WI 2024/25, PAK vs WI 1st Test Match Preview

Big picture: Expect lots of travel in Multan

The timing of this series doesn’t exactly help raise its profile. It happens after the top two places in the World Test Championship (WTC) have been decided at the end of the cycle. West Indies are at the bottom of the standings, Pakistan just a bit ahead of them. Originally scheduled to be held in January 2024, this series would have had the potential to turn a side’s cycle, but the T20Is against New Zealand replaced it. This time, in the bigger competition, it’s little more than a basement fight.

With a removal from the WTC, however, there are more intrigues. West Indies are set to play a Test in Pakistan after more than 18 years, although they have played Pakistan in the UAE in the meantime. This series will be a continuation of PCB’s experiment, so successful against England last year, to turn the pitches of Pakistan into paradise for spin bowling. It was in Multan, where both Tests against the West Indies are held, that this was first tried. Pakistan have made no secret that they want to try to replicate it there again, with heaters and a makeshift greenhouse making this look as much pioneering horticulture as pitch preparation.

They also have the squad, especially the bowlers, for such conditions. The quicks have been left out and Sajid Khan is back to partner Noman Ali, as is Abrar Ahmed, who had missed the last two Tests against England with illness. Shan Masood continues to run the site. He will open the innings in a batting line-up that has also seen a tweak. Abdullah Shafique’s loss of form and Saim Ayub’s injury have pushed Masood up the order and also brought debutant Muhammad Hurraira into the fold.

But the spin experiment could meet more resistance from the West Indies than it did from England. The latter tried to stifle Pakistan with the same cavalier belligerence that has served them well on flatter pitches and ended up playing right into the hosts’ hands. West Indies are unlikely to do the same, and while they don’t possess a star-studded batting line-up, they will emerge with one that has experience in those conditions – as well as a spin attack that could potentially thrive in them.

However, the West Indies sit at the bottom of the WTC points table for a reason. Their results – both at home and away – have not been consistent enough. The exciting win over Australia in Brisbane feels like a long time ago. That was followed by England sweeping them away, a home series defeat against South Africa and a draw against Bangladesh.

They are aware that things need to change and have already made a significant call; Vice-captain Joshua Da Silva has been dropped after a run of underwhelming performances with the bat. However, Brathwaite and his team will know that their problems run deeper than that and this series at least gives them the chance to bounce back.

Form guide

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

In the spotlight: Saud Shakeel and Gudakesh Motie

Batters adept at negotiating spin-friendly conditions will become invaluable and this is where Saud Shakeel comes into the picture. In theory, Shakeel should thrive with the slow, low swing Multan will provide. But he has suggested, somewhat counterintuitively, that he enjoys playing on faster wickets. And in Pakistan’s recent Test in Multan against England, where spin was heavily favoured, Shakeel scored 35 runs across two innings. Overall, though, he still averages over 50 in six innings on this track and if he can come close to matching that in what is likely to be a fast-paced, low-scoring game, he could well be a difference maker with the bat.

Few people should enjoy this series more than Gudakesh Motie. West Indies’ perceived greater spin ability than England makes the preparation of slow-swinging pitches potentially riskier than it was against England, and it is the left-arm orthodox that Pakistan will be most wary of. At nine Tests, Motie’s ceiling is yet to be determined, but his height gives him a wide range of options to work with on surfaces conducive to his skills. Motie has a better bowling average than Sajid and almost the same as Noman – Pakistan’s most potent threats in these conditions against England – although 19 of his 28 wickets have come against Zimbabwe.

Team news: Roach ill, Da Silva dropped

Pakistan have named their XI, with three spinners, as well as debutant Muhammad Hurraira to open.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Shan Masood (capt), 2 Muhammad Hurraira, 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 ill, while Anderson Phillip is also unlikely to be picked in what is expected to be a spin-heavy West Indies side. In Roach’s absence, their seam attack will be led by Jayden Seales. Meanwhile, Da Silva has been dropped, with uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Amir Jangoo almost set to debut.

West Indies (probable): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 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

Stand and conditions

This is the question, isn’t it? Pakistan continues to rage against the elements, determined to soak the Multan surface dry in bitter cold by erecting a greenhouse on the site to warm the surface. This has never been attempted here in January before, although Pakistan managed to bend the Rawalpindi surface against England to their will in October. If they succeed again, you can expect a significant turn to the right from the start, and for the spin to run almost across the test without pause. In the meantime, the weather is expected to be bitterly cold.

Statistics and trivia

Kraigg Brathwaite is 99 runs away from surpassing Richie Richardson’s Test tally, and 149 from becoming the tenth West Indian batter to score 6000 Test runs.
The last Test these two teams played in Multan, in November 2006, saw just 27 wickets fall over more than 439 overs and five days, with more than 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 take the momentum of the England series forward.”
Shan Masood calls for consistency on his part

“We have adapted well – similar conditions to Islamabad [where the warm-up game was held]. We have acclimatised and are looking forward to the tests.”
Craig Brathwaite believe the conditions won’t be too different from their three-day warm-up games

Danyal Rasool is Pakinomist’s Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000