Pakistan vs West Indies 1st T20 Prediction

If WI Bat First

Predicted Score: Around 170

Johnson Charles has scored good runs in his previous two T20I outings against India with scores of 79 and 43. The opening batsman seems to be in great touch and he could top-score against Pakistan in this first T20I. Marlon Samuels - the top run-getter for West Indies in the World T20 - is going to be another important batsman. Dwayne Bravo has made the most runs against Pakistan in T20Is, and he will be their best man in the middle-order. West Indies will be looking at these three batsmen to take the team's total to around 170.

Pakistan will probably start off with Mohammad Amir, Sohail Tanvir and Wahab Riaz who make up the team's strong pace bowling lineup. While Amir has been Pakistan's best bet with the new ball, Tanvir has excellent numbers against his name in T20 cricket. Of all the bowlers from this squad, Tanvir has taken the maximum T20I wickets for his team and has decent figures in the two T20Is he has played against the Windies. Imad Wasim is their best spinner, and considering his recent bowling performances, he is expected to do a good job in this match. West Indies have depth in their batting, and so Pakistan will have to keep striking at regular intervals if they do not want to be chasing a huge target.

Pak vs WI Head-to-Head in T20Is

Pakistan and West Indies have played a total of four T20 internationals against each other and both have won two games each. Their most recent face-off at the 2014 World T20 in Dhaka was won by the West Indies. The two teams have not met in a T20I in the UAE before.

Our Prediction

Pakistan are not doing too well in 20-overs cricket as they have not won even half of the matches they have played this year. Out of the 12 T20Is, they have won just 5 and lost 7 of them. Moreover, they have faced defeats in three of their last four matches. Also, Pakistan's record at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is ordinary at best. Since 2009, they have played 19 matches here with wins in only 8 of them - a win percentage close to 45.

West Indies, on the contrary, have emerged as a powerful T20 side over the years. They have won the World T20 twice and are the current champions in this format, having won the World T20 this year in India. Their T20 record in 2016 has so far been fantastic with only 1 loss in the 7 completed matches. They have wins in their previous three matches and are looking a formidable force in T20 cricket.

The only issue is that West Indies have never played a T20I in the UAE before and they just have one warm-up game to get accustomed to the conditions. But otherwise, we feel that West Indies who are ladened with all-rounders are better placed to win this first T20 international.