Pakistan hopes West Indies series marks turnaround
Tuesday, 11 Nov, 2008 | 07:19 PM PST |
Shoaib Malik will be looking for a spirited effort from the team after the departure of key batsman Mohammed Yousuf. -AFP (file photo)
ABU DHABI: Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik hopes the three-match one-day international series against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi will mark a turnaround in the fortunes of his side.
On the eve of Wednesday's match at the Zayed Stadium in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi, Malik said their familiarity with the pitch and the enthusiastic crowd support his team can expect here, will be important factors as Pakistan tries to shake off the rust from a lack of recent international action.
The series assumes added importance for Pakistan as this is the only international series they play before hosting cross-border rivals India in three Tests and five one-day international matches in January and February next year.
The Zayed Stadium has hosted five ODI matches and Pakistan have featured in all of them. They have won three, two against Sri Lanka and one against India, and lost once each to the two countries.
'This may just be one of the most important series we have played in recent times and we are eager to do well,' said Malik, who also happens to be the most successful batsman in Abu Dhabi with an aggregate of 174 runs in five outings.
'We are hosting India early next year and we need to get into some kind of rhythm before that. We have a few youngsters in the side and this may be their only chance to prove their ability in international cricket before we meet India,' he added.
While admitting that knowledge of the pitch may give his team a slight advantage, Malik added: 'The pitch here is a very good one, maybe a bit biased towards the batsmen. That should help the West Indies as well because they have a very good batting side.'
Pakistan, who lost their top batsman Mohammad Yousuf to the unofficial Indian Cricket League recently, have been boosted by the return of paceman Shoaib Akhtar. Of the 63 wickets that have fallen in Abu Dhabi, fast bowlers have taken 40.
'We did pick up five fast bowlers for this series, but that doesn't mean pace is going to be our only strategy. A lot will depend on how the boys are bowling, and also on whether we are batting first or second,' said Malik.
West Indies captain Chris Gayle said Pakistan can never be underestimated and hoped his batsmen will fire in the series.
'Abu Dhabi is a new venue for us, and we would like to make a good start here. Pakistan may not have the best preparation for this series, but they are always a very dangerous side. Their bowling attack has always been good and balanced, so it is up to our batsmen now to take up the challenge,' he said.
'Players like Lionel Baker, Brendan Nash and Shawn Findlay are all new and are very exciting prospects. This series is a great opportunity for them to prove themselves.'
The second and third one-day internationals are on Friday and Sunday.
Teams:
Pakistan: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misba-ul Haq, Khurrum Manzoor, Khalid Latif, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Umer Gul, Sohail Tanveer, Rao Iftikhar, Abdur Rauf, Saeed Ajmal, Fawad Alam.
West Indies: Chris Gayle (capt), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Xavier Marshall, Lionel Baker, Carlton Baugh, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Shawn Findlay, Leon Johnson, Nikita Miller, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Dave Mohammed, Kemar Roach.
JEET KE GEO 
