Who will win West Indies vs Pakistan first T20?
West Indies host Pakistan at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, in the first match of the four-game T20 international series. Scheduled to start on March 26, the live action begins at 12:30 local time.
West Indies vs Pakistan first T20i: Where to watch/Live streaming
TV channels: Fox Sports, Ten Sports 3, Sky Sports, PTV Sports
Live streaming: Willow TV online
Toss Prediction
Despite Jason Holder’s claims during West Indies’ ODI series with England that the pitch at Bridgetown offers more for the team bowling first, only four of the 16 T20 internationals played at the Kensington Oval have been won by the team batting second.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for West Indies vs Pakistan first T20 international.
West Indies Team News & Playing 11
Team News
West Indies have been handed a major boost with the availability of Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons and Samuel Badree for the T20 series against Pakistan. All four head to the IPL at the conclusion of the series. All-rounder Dwayne Bravo is out with a hamstring injury, however, while Andre Russell is serving a doping ban. World T20 winning captain Darren Sammy is still not a part of the squad despite insisting he remains available, while Chris Gayle has not played international cricket since that tournament either. Jason Mohammed, who impressed in the ODI series against England, is in line to make his T20 international debut.
Key Players
Kieron Pollard showed glimpses of his best form in the Pakistan Super League, including smashing 47 from 26 balls in his most recent match as Karachi Kings lost in the third qualifying final. Pollard was one of a number of West Indians to impress against their Pakistani counterparts in that series, with off-spinner Sunil Narine another. The 28-year-old took ten wickets in his eight matches, and had an economy rate of just 6.46. The availability of both men to face Pakistan before they jet off to the IPL is a huge boost for the hosts.
Recent Form
Since their dramatic Carlos Braithwaite-inspired victory in the World T20 final last year, West Indies have beaten India in a two-match T20 international series, but were then whitewashed by Pakistan in the UAE. West Indies’ most recent international series saw them whitewashed again, this time in the 50-over format, against England.
West Indies Predicted Playing 11
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Jason Mohammed, Andre Fletcher, Chadwick Walton, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Kieron Pollard, Carlos Braithwaite, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree, Jerome Taylor, Kesrick Williams
Pakistan Team News & Playing 11
Team News
Veteran Kamran Akmal returns to the Pakistan squad for the first time in three years after impressing in the recent Pakistan Super League. Akmal was top run scorer in the competition with 353 runs as Peshawar Zalmi were crowned champions. Batsman Ahmed Shehzad, who also impressed in that tournament with three 50s for Quetta Gladiators, has also been recalled but Azhar Ali and Sharjeel Khan is suspended. Mohammad Amir has been rested for the T20 series and Umar Akmal failed to hit the required fitness levels.
Key Players
Babar Azam was Pakistan’s top scorer as they whitewashed West Indies in the UAE, and the 22-year-old carried that form into the PSL, where he was second behind cousin Kamran Akmal in the run-scoring charts with 291 in ten innings. With Mohammad Amir rested, Wahab Riaz leads the pace-bowling attack. The left-arm bowler took ten wickets in his final four games in the PSL as he helped lead Peshawar Zalmi to victory. Slow-left-arm bowler Imad Wasim was top wicket-taker in the recent Pakistan vs West Indies T20 series, taking nine in three matches including career-best figures of 5/14 in the opening game.
Recent Form
Pakistan have won their last four T20 international matches, whitewashing West Indies in the UAE after beating England in a low-scoring match at Old Trafford. In all formats, however, their form has not been so good – their most recent limited-overs series ended in a 4-1 defeat in Australia.
Pakistan Predicted Playing 11
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Ahmed Shezhad, Kamran Akmal, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Hasan Ali
Team Form in Last Five Matches (most recent first)
West Indies: L L L NR W
Pakistan: W W W W L
West Indies vs Pakistan Head to Head
Pakistan have won five of their last six T20 internationals against the West Indies, winning all three games in the UAE in their most recent series, and winning both matches on their last tour of the Caribbean. West Indies’ only victory against Pakistan in that time came at the 2014 World T20.
West Indies vs Pakistan 1st T20 Betting Odds
Despite their recent struggles against Pakistan, West Indies are narrow favourites with Bet365 thanks to their home advantage. Bet365 are offering 1.72 on a West Indies win and 2.10 for Pakistan to win.
West Indies vs Pakistan 1st T20 Prediction
West Indies may be World T20 champions, but their recent form has not been that of champions. Pakistan were too good for West Indies in the UAE, and they can upset the odds in their first match in Bridgetown.
Final Verdict: Back Pakistan to beat West Indies in the first T20 international at 2.10 with Bet365.
Mar 26, 2017
22:00 IST / 16:30 GMT
Kensington Oval - Bridgetown, Barbados
Wi vs Pak T20 
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