West Indies eye historic Test series win over Pakistan

Nkrumah Bonner (right) and Kyle Mayers will want to recapture the form they had earlier in the year

The success stories of the memorable Bangladesh tour in February are short of runs, and the skipper said he is backing batsmen Nkrumah Bonner and Kyle Mayers to rekindle their form after some low scores as well in the preceding series against South Africa.

Since Bonner made 113* in March against Sri Lanka, his scores have been 0, 10, 0 and 5, while Mayers since his 55 in March as well, has gone 1, 12, 12, 34, 0 and 0.

Pressure is at the top too, as opener Kieran Powell, who came back in the Test team after a hiatus since November 2018, has scores of 14, 5, 51, 0 and 4. Luckily for Powell and unfortunately for West Indies, the competition for places in that position is quite weak currently.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan, wicketkeeper-batsman and vice-captain of Pakistan men’s Test team expects his side to do well in the second Test.

While talking to media via videoconference call Rizwan said, “The last Test match was a great game of cricket. Everyone was on their toes. It was a very rare sight but unfortunately, we lost in the end.

“We have left the defeat behind and are now aiming to win the next game starting tomorrow (today) and level the series.”

The match time is 11:00h (Eastern Caribbean time).

West Indies provisional squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood (vice-captain), Kieran Powell, Nkrumah Bonner, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican, Shamarh Brooks, Rahkeem Cornwall, Chemar Holder, Jahmar Hamilton

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-capt, wk), Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imran Butt, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Yasir Shah, Zahid Mahmood.