Broadcasters, ground staff working in ground, third T20I is very much on

KARACHI: Broadcasters and ground staff are currently working here at National Stadium and it looks like the third T20I will go on as per scheduled. 

Five more COVID-19 cases in Windies camp put third T20I and ODI series against Pakistan in danger.

The two cricket boards held online meeting to discuss the future of rest of the matches here at National Stadium.

According to reports, broadcasters and ground staff got green signal to start working in the ground.

Windies Cricket had confirmed that wicketkeeper/batsman Shai Hope, left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, allrounder Justin Greaves, Assistant Coach Roddy Estwick, and Team Physician Dr Akshai Mansingh returned COVID-19 positive in the latest round of testing carried out by the PCB.

Five of them have been put into isolation immediately for 10 days and will not be available for rest of the matches.

Earlier, three players; Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, and Kyle Mayers alongside a non-coaching member of the team were tested COVID-19 positive.

READ: COVID-19 cases in Windies camp put their Pakistan tour in danger

COVID-19 cases in Windies camp put their Pakistan tour in danger

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to meet Windies Cricket today after they confirmed five more COVID-19 positive cases in touring party’s camp. 

According to Windies Cricket, wicketkeeper/batsman Shai Hope, left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, allrounder Justin Greaves, Assistant Coach Roddy Estwick, and Team Physician Dr Akshai Mansingh have returned COVID-19 positive in the latest round of testing carried out by the PCB.

Five of them have been put into isolation immediately for 10 days and will not be available for rest of the matches.

Earlier, three players; Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, and Kyle Mayers alongside a non-coaching member of the team were tested COVID-19 positive.

Now, PCB and Windies Cricket will meet today to decide the future of the tour. Pakistan has already won the three-match T20I series 2-0 with a match to go. They are scheduled to play three ODIs on December 18, 20 and 22 respectively.

READ: More Windies players tested COVID-19 positive: West Indian media

More Windies players tested COVID-19 positive: West Indian media

KARACHI: As per the West Indian media, more West Indian players tested Covi-19 positive, ahead of the final T20I against Pakistan.

According to reports, more West Indies players and support staff have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of today’s final T20I against Pakistan.

The names of the players and officials kept confidential until Cricket West Indies makes an official announcement.

According to sources, contracted players will not be available for the third T20I, scheduled today.

Recently, three West Indian players; including Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase and Kyle Mayers, along with a non coaching management person also contracted the virus.

READ: Chase, Cottrell, Mayers tested COVID-19 positive: WI Cricket Confirms 

 

“The result would be different if we didn’t make some mistakes,” Nicholas Pooran

KARACHI: West Indian captain, Nicholas Pooran had a media talk ahead of the third T20I, the captain said, some errors costed them the second T20I against Pakistan.

West Indian captain also admitted that he played a wrong shot in the penultimate, which costed him his wicket.

“I also got out after attempting a bad shot, if there had been no errors, the outcome of the game would have been different,” he said.

Pooran, also lauded Brandon King, for his brilliant knock of 67 in the last night contest against Pakistan.

“King performed brilliantly in the last match, he has shown his class,” he added.

The West Indian captain, also hailed the bowling attack of Pakistan team.

“Pakistan’s T20I team has a strong bowling attack,” he concluded.

Pooran, while asked about the possible changes in the playing-eleven for the third T20I, opted not to disclose a thing. He, however, said that whatever the team combination will be, our prime focus is to succeed.

READ: Bowlers help Pakistan win T20I series 2-0 against West Indies

PCB may allow free entry for Pak-Windies ODI series

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) conducted a meeting to discuss the low turnout for the ongoing T20I series between Pakistan and the West Indies.

Senior PCB officials, as well as personnel from the media department, participated in the meeting via Zoom.

According to the sources, in the meeting, there was discussion about granting cricket fans free entry to the ODI series.

PCB will announce the possible free entry for the fans after the T20I series.

In the first T20I, the cricketing fans lacked interest, and the crowd attendance was quite low.

READ: Fans lack interest in Pak-Windies series ticket sales

Bowlers help Pakistan win T20I series 2-0 against West Indies

KARACHI: Pakistani bowlers bowled brilliantly to help Pakistan win three-match T20I series 2-0 against West Indies here at National Stadium. 

Brandon King’s 67 went in vain as Pakistani bowlers made impressive comeback in the game to hand nine-run victory to their team. He smashed six boundaries and three maximums. Nicholas Pooran made run-a-ball 26.

Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Wasim Jr bagged two wickets each while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf shared a wicket each.

Earlier, Shadab Khan accelerated Pakistan’s score in the end as they put up 172-8 in the second match.

Mohamamd Rizwan once again provided a good start to Pakistan single-handedly after losing his opening partner Babar Azam earlier. He scored 38 off 30 balls including four boundaries and a six.

Haider Ali supported Rizwan strongly by scoring 31 runs off 34 balls including four boundaries.

Iftikhar smashed two sixes and a boundary to score 32 whereas Shadab remained not out for 28 laced with three sixes and a boundary.

For West Indies, Odean Smith bagged two wickets while Akeal Hosein, Oshane Thomas, Romario Shepherd, and Hayden Walsh shared a wicket apiece.

TOSS

Pakistan have won the toss and decided to bat first

SQUADS

Pakistan (XI): Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (W), Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi

West Indies (XI): Nicholas Pooran (C), Shai Hope (W), Brandon King, Sharmarh Brooks, Rovman Powell, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Dominic Drakes, Oshane Thomas, and Hayden Walsh

Pakistan bowl out West Indies for 137 to start T20I series on a winning note

KARACHI: Mohammad Wasim Jr bagged four wickets to help Pakistan bowl out West Indies for 137 runs and win first T20I by 63 runs here at National Stadium on Monday.

Earlier, Mohammad Rizwan and Haider Ali scored unbeaten 105 runs together as Pakistan put 200-6 in 20 overs.

Sent into bat first, Pakistan lost their captain Babar Azam earlier for the sum of just a run. But, Rizwan kept his nerves calm and joined hands with Haider after the home side was 35-2.

Haider smashed 68 runs off 38 balls including six boundaries and four sixes whereas Rizwan made 78 runs off 52 balls laced with 10 boundaries.

Mohammad Nawaz, in the end, struck 30 runs off 10 balls including three boundaries and two sixes to help Pakistan set 201 runs for the visitors to chase.

Romario Shepherd bagged two wickets for West Indies whereas Akeal Hosein, Oshane Thomas, Dominic Drakes, and Odean Smith shared a wicket apiece.

In reply, West Indies’ batting order lost complete control as they kept losing wickets after regular intervals. Shai Hope scored 31 runs off 26 balls including four boundaries.

Romario Shepherd (21) and Odean Smith (24) resisted a bit in the end by scoring 46 runs together.

Apart from Wasim, Shadab Khan bagged three wickets while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz and Haris Rauf took a wicket each.

TOSS

West Indian captain, Nicholas Pooran, won the toss and opted to bowl first

Pakistan (XI): Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (W), Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen Shah Afridi

West Indies (XI): Nicholas Pooran (C), Shai Hope (W), Brandon King, Sharmarh Brooks, Rovman Powell, Odean Smith, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Dominic Drakes, Oshane Thomas, and Devon Thomas

Australian security delegation reviews arrangements of Pak-Windies series

KARACHI: An Australian security delegation visited at the National Stadium to review the arrangements made for the first T20I between Pakistan and West Indies.

The Australian delegation reviewed the security arrangements from the hotel to the stadium. The delegation includes Benjamin Clarke, Grendan Gerald, and Stuart Andrew Belly. Moreover, England security expert Ridge Dixon was also present at the stadium.

The security team also reviewed the arrangements last week. Australian Men’s Cricket team is scheduled to tour Pakistan in March, next year.

READ: Australian delegation satisfied with security briefing in Karachi

“Confident to enter the field with new players,” WI captain

KARACHI: Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies T20I captain, spoke to the media via video conference ahead of tomorrow’s first T20I.

Pooran, who will be captaining the side for T20Is, is confident to perform well with young players.

“Ready to enter the field with new players, we have the best players in the squad,” he said.

Caribbean skipper is also confident with the abilities of his players.

“Have full confidence in the abilities of our players, our players played brilliantly in the CPL and T10 League,” he added.

The captain also said that it is difficult to predict the outcomes in T20I format as any player can change the game single-handedly on a given day.

West Indian skipper was full of praises for Pakistani openers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. The captain also lauded Pakistan’s pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi’s recent performance.

“Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are playing well, both the players have performed brilliantly this year. Pakistan also has the services of Shaheen, who is a brilliant performer” he said.

READ: “Doesn’t matter if the key players don’t come,” Babar Azam

PCB announces commentary panel for Pak-Windies series

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), announced the commentary panel for the Pakistan-West Indies T20I and ODI series, here on Sunday.

For Pakistan, Bazid Khan and Sana Mir would be part of the panel for both series. While Marina Iqbal will be commentating in ODIs only.

Former cricketer and famous commentator, Ian Bishop, along with Jeff Dujon, will represent the touring nation in the panel.

Simon Doull, New Zealand’s commentator, will also be part of the panel. While Pakistan’s Sikander Bakht will act as the presenter for the tour.

Taking to Twitter, PCB shared the picture to announce the commentary panel.

“Presenting to you the commentary panel for PAKvWI T20I and ODI series,” the cricket board wrote.

 

 

The T20I and ODI series between Pakistan and the West Indies will take place from December 13 to December 22. The National Stadium Karachi will host both series matches.

READ: “Doesn’t matter if the key players don’t come,” Babar Azam