It’s been a long time since the West Indies toured Pakistan – the last time they played in the country was 2006, so the arrival of the men from the Caribbean has been met with much excitement. Jonhenry Wilson previews the first Test.
Pakistan v West Indies – First Test
17 – 21 January 2025
Multan Cricket Stadium
It’s a two-Test series and even though neither side has anything to play for in terms of a World Test Championship final, this is still a fixture with a lot of history attached to it.
The last time the Windies played a test in Pakistan may have been 2006, the last time they won a Test there November 1990
Multan hasn’t hosted many Test matches in recent times. Of the last three that have been played here however, the side that has batted first has won twice. In short, the wicket tends to take spin as the game wears on.
The encounter between Pakistan and the West Indies should be a closely fought affair – the sides are ranked seventh and eighth respectively in the ICC rankings.
To Win Match
Pakistan 3/10 | Draw 15/2 | West Indies 5/1
Pakistan all-rounder Kamran Ghulam is a fan of the Multan pitch. From his two Test innings at the venue, he averages 72 runs with a highest score of 118. Saud Shakeel (50.50), Salman Agha (71.25) and skipper Shan Masood (44.00) also have solid averages at the venue.
Spin didn’t feature strongly for Pakistan on their recent tour of South Africa. That has changed for the home series against the Windies with Mohammad Abbas, Aamer Jamal, Mir Hamza and Naseem Shah all rested for the visit of the West Indies. In come spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sajid Khan to join Noman Ali (who toured South Africa but who didn’t play in the Tests) as Pakistan bolster their spin options significantly.
While Pakistan boasted a solid bowling attack in South Africa it wasn’t the quickest with seam and accuracy preferred over outright speed. With a host of the players from the extended trip to Africa rested they have also brought back Mohammad Ali (who has played four Tests to date and taken six wickets at an average of 67.66) and young Kashif Ali who is fast but inexperienced. Kashif has played just nine First Class games, but he is rated by those in the know and he looks set to make his debut against the West Indies.
Babar Azam looked to be coming back into form in South Africa with three consecutive fifty-plus scores in his last three innings (50, 58 and 81), but he has now gone 22 innings since he last scored a century. That came in December 2022 when he stroked an outstanding 161 against New Zealand.
Given that the West Indies haven’t played in Pakistan since 2006 it’s no surprise that none of their current players have ever played there.
While the West Indies boast two players in the ICC top 20 bowling they have no batsmen up at the top end of the batting rankings. Speaking to the media ahead of the series coach Andre Coley noted: “We’ve been able to keep ourselves in Test matches on the back of our bowling. It’s time, going forward in 2025, that the batsmen now, having been given certain opportunities to test their skills, to learn and translate those into performances.”
The West Indies batting is very inexperienced with just 15 centuries between them. Of those 15, 12 belong to skipper Kraigg Brathwaite who is far and away the most experienced player in their lineup. Braithwaite has 12 centuries and 30 fifties at an average of 33.43.
The West Indies’ only warm-up game ahead of the Test was a clash against a Pakistan Shaheens side which ended in a draw. Alick Athanaze was the pick of the Windies performers in that game scoring 99 in the first innings and an undefeated 58 in the second.
Meanwhile, the warm-up game saw the bowlers share the wickets around amongst themselves. Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican picked up wickets in each innings while offspinner Kevin Sinclair too for three for 50 in the first innings. Sinclair has played two Tests to date, but he looks set to feature in Multan – look out for his trade-mark somersault celebration.
Verdict: Pakistan 3/10
It is not easy winning in Pakistan. It’s a hostile environment with conditions that are foreign for most touring teams – England lost there, 2-1 in 2024, although there were recent wins in Pakistan for Bangladesh and Australia. Pakistan should have too much batting class for the tourists.
