GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC) – With a focus on rebuilding their side for the future, West Indies will seek to open their series against a similarly inexperienced Pakistan in their lone Twenty20 International at the Beausejour Cricket Ground here today.
The hosts, like their guests, are missing key senior players for the 14:00 h fixture and the new players drafted will be anxious to make an impression and set the tone of the series that includes five One-Day Internationals and two Tests.
West Indies are without talismanic opener Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul, leaving the regional side without their most experienced players.
Captain Darren Sammy, however, remained upbeat the Windies could launch the series on a positive note.
“The squad is a well balanced one, full of youngsters who are eager and hungry to go out there and represent the West Indies,” the all-rounder told a media conference yesterday.
“So what you will see is youngsters going out there with an opportunity to showcase what they have and make a statement.
“That’s what you are going to see out there – energy and players playing for West Indies with heart and pride and passion. We are looking forward to this season and we will put our best foot forward.”
West Indies are coming off a lacklustre World Cup campaign where they made it to the quarter-finals before being crushed by Pakistan.
It prompted selectors to make sweeping changes and Sammy stressed it was important that the regional side turn around their fortunes swiftly.
“We have not been doing well of late. If we play to our ability we should do well,” Sammy pointed out. “It is important to start the series here in St Lucia on a good note and move up.”
The match marks the return of batsman Marlon Samuels following a two-year ban from international cricket for inappropriate ties to an Indian bookmaker and much will be expected of him especially on the heels of his heavy scoring in the Regional First Class Championship.
He will be joined by the stylish stroke-maker Darren Bravo and flashy right-hander Lendl Simmons who has been recalled after over a year in the wilderness.
They will combine with exciting all-rounder Andre Russell and wily leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo in the new-look squad that boasts four new caps.
“With the World Cup behind us we’re rebuilding now and we’re looking forward to what is ahead in the future,” Sammy said.
“It’s going to take a team effort as the slogan suggests to go out there and deliver the goods for the West Indies.”
At an official welcome Tuesday evening, both West Indies and Pakistan were invited to the viewing of the new film “Fire in Babylon” which chronicles the passion, struggles and ultimately the supremacy of West Indies cricket.
Sammy said the movie had been an inspiration to the side, especially after re-living the years of West Indies’ domination of world cricket.
“We are in a very inspired mood having seen the movie last night. It really brought back the legacy, history and pride back to our players,” Sammy noted.
“That was a perfect way to start the series and we are looking to show that on the field of play. It was what our guys needed to start the series.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said he was expecting his young team to entertain the Caribbean cricket fans.
“We always enjoy our cricket whenever we come to the Caribbean. The boys are young but they have performed well in domestic cricket in Pakistan so we are expecting them to do well here,” said Afridi.
Squads:
West Indies – Darren Sammy (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Andre Fletcher, Danza Hyatt, Ashley Nurse, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Lendl Simmons.
Pakistan – Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Taufeeq Umar, Usman Salahuddin, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam, Aizaz Cheema and Mohammad Salman.