Match: Pakistan vs West Indies
Competition: Test Series (2nd Test)
Venue: Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan
Date: 25th January 2025
Time: 10:00 AM Local Time (Pakistan Standard Time)
Team Preview
Pakistan
- Position: Leading the series 1-0 after a dominant win in the first Test.
- Form: Pakistan comfortably defeated West Indies in the first Test, showcasing their dominance in both batting and bowling. The spinners, in particular, were exceptional and took all 20 wickets in the opening game.
- Batting:
- Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan are the key figures in the batting department.
- Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam will provide stability in the middle order.
- The team will look for contributions from Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha in the lower middle order.
- Bowling:
- Pakistan’s spin trio of Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, and Abrar Ahmed will be crucial on a turning pitch, as seen in the first Test where they shared all the wickets.
- Khurram Shahzad will provide pace options, although the spin attack is expected to dominate again.
Key Performers:
- Sajid Khan: With 4 wickets in the first innings of the first Test, he will be key again.
- Noman Ali: Took 5 wickets in the first Test and is crucial on the turning track.
- Saud Shakeel: Played an important knock in the first innings and will be crucial for runs in the middle order.
Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:
Shan Masood (C), Muhammad Hurraira, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed
West Indies
- Position: Behind by 1-0 in the series, looking to bounce back after a poor performance in the first Test.
- Form: The West Indies were bowled out cheaply in both innings of the first Test, and their batting will need to improve significantly to challenge Pakistan. They are heavily reliant on their top-order, including Kraigg Brathwaite and Alick Athanaze, to deliver big scores.
- Batting:
- Kraigg Brathwaite (C) and Mikyle Louis will need to provide a solid foundation at the top.
- Alick Athanaze, who showed some resilience in the first Test with a score of 55, will need to carry that form forward.
- The middle order, including Keacy Carty and Kavem Hodge, will need to step up to put pressure on the Pakistan bowlers.
- Bowling:
- Jomel Warrican, Kevin Sinclaire, and Gudakesh Motie will be crucial in containing Pakistan’s batting, especially given the dry conditions which favor spinners.
- Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves will need to provide pace breakthroughs.
Key Performers:
- Jomel Warrican: Leading the attack in the first Test with 3 wickets.
- Alick Athanaze: Top-scored for the West Indies in the first Test and needs to continue his fight.
- Jayden Seales: He was impressive with the ball and could cause problems with his pace in the dry conditions.
West Indies Predicted Playing XI:
Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Mikyle Louis, Keacy Carty, Kavem Hodge, Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach (wk), Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales
Pitch Report
- Multan Cricket Stadium is known for its spin-friendly conditions, and the pitch is expected to assist spinners throughout the match.
- Toss Prediction: Teams will likely prefer to bat first as the pitch tends to get slower and lower as the game progresses, making batting more difficult on the 3rd and 4th days.
- The first innings could be crucial, with the team batting first likely to set a challenging target.
Weather Conditions
- Weather: The forecast indicates clear, sunny conditions with light winds. No major rain interruptions are expected, making it ideal for a full game of cricket.
- Temperatures: Expect sunny conditions with a high of around 23°C. It will be a comfortable day for cricket.
Key Factors to Watch
- Pakistan’s Spinners: With the pitch heavily favoring spinners, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Abrar Ahmed will be the key to Pakistan’s success.
- West Indies’ Batting Response: The West Indies need a strong start from Kraigg Brathwaite and Mikyle Louis, along with some middle-order contributions from Alick Athanaze and Keacy Carty.
- Pressure on West Indies: After the heavy defeat in the first Test, the West Indies’ batting line-up will need to show significant improvement to challenge Pakistan in this Test.
Prediction
- Pakistan are strong favorites to win the second Test after their dominant performance in the first game.
- West Indies will need to drastically improve their batting to avoid a series sweep, but the conditions and the form of Pakistan’s spinners give them the upper hand.
Final Prediction: Pakistan to win the second Test and complete a 2-0 series victory.
Player to Watch
- Pakistan: Sajid Khan (Spinner), Saud Shakeel (Batsman)
- West Indies: Jomel Warrican (Bowler), Alick Athanaze (Batsman)
This Test is set to be another challenging one for the West Indies, with Pakistan looking to continue their strong performances on home soil.
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