TALISMANIC West Indies opener Christopher Gayle yesterday said he is eagerly looking forward to today’s first of two One Day Internationals (ODI) against Pakistan at

the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, wherein he will be making his 250th appearance for the Regional side in this format of the game.
The left-handed Jamaican was speaking to the media, following a rain-aborted practice session for the West Indies at the venue, where he also highlighted his eagerness to face Pakistan’s Mohammed Irfan once again, having done so in last month’s ICC Champions Trophy in England.
“To get 250 ODIs is always good. It took a lot of years, but my service for West Indies actually has been good and I am glad to serve my country on so many occasions” said Gayle, who made his ODI debut 13 years ago against India in Toronto, Canada, when the Windies competed in the DMC Cup.
The 33-year-old Gayle managed just one run as the Windies suffered a humiliating 8-wicket defeat with 12.3 overs to spare, but since then he has scored an additional 8 681 runs from 10 265 balls at an average of 38.24, adding 21 tons and 45 half-centuries, with a highest score of 153 not out.
Quizzed on whether he would love to score a matching 250 runs against the Pakistanis bowling attack today, a jovial Gayle said, “That’s a lot of runs in ODI. Anything is possible in cricket, but I would love to get a ton to commemorate the landmark moment.
I remembered my century on my home ground in Jamaica, so 250 would be a great score to get, but I am looking forward to the contest tomorrow (today) and hopefully we (West Indies) can come away with a win as well.”
Reflecting on the team’s performance in the just concluded Celkon Cup Tri-Nation series that involved Sri Lanka and India and was won by the Indians last Thursday, Gayle said the West Indies started well, but it was unfortunate they did not make it to the final, adding that it is behind them and they are looking forward to the upcoming series against the Pakistanis.
“Yes, we had a good start from a personal point of view and also a team point of view. But we are disappointed in the two last games. We know the result did not go according to how we wanted it, but this is a fresh series for us and hopefully we can take it into stride.
“When we get that start again, we can capitalise on it and do better. We know Pakistan is a good team so we cannot take anything for granted as well, even though we beat them in the Champions Trophy last month.”
He added, “They are a good all-round team and have one of the best bowling attacks. Coming up against them, we can use the victory in the Champions Trophy as a booster and try and get a kick-start. Their batting lineup is always good so we cannot take anything for granted. We know the home conditions every well so hopefully we can use that to our advantage and put them on the back foot as early as possible.”
As it relates to his much anticipated battle with both Irfan and Saeed Ajmal, with the latter dismissing Gayle in the Champions Trophy, the former West Indies captain said, “Up against him. In the Champions Trophy, it was the first time I faced someone that tall in cricket. But the good thing is I got a chance to see him for the first time in England.
“People will speculate about Ajmal as we will, but that is another turning point in cricket. In life, like I said, the Champions Trophy is the first time I got out to Ajmal as well, while I got two centuries against him, but people tend to make it a big issue; and two big names going up head-to-head is always a good competition for cricket-loving fans to see out there.”
Like his skipper Dwayne Bravo said the previous day shortly after the team deplaned at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Guyanese always come out in their numbers and throw their support behind the game and hopefully it will be the same today, for which he is looking forward.
Prior to the rain interrupting their session, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Keiron Pollard and Marlon Samuels all had a net session on the practice pitch, where local bowlers got the chance to exercise their art against them, while Lendl Simmons and Johnson Charles were awaiting their turn.
While Gayle will be entering this contest for the 250th time, another former West Indies captain in Darren Sammy will be doing so for the 99th time, making today’s matchup against the Pakistanis who came away with a tense seven run victory over Guyana in their lone warm up fixture last Thursday, a must see.
After the Windies practice session, the Pakistanis took to the outfield at the venue, where they underwent catching and fielding drills under the guidance of head coach Dave Whatmore and his team of coaches.
Dating back to 1975 when the West Indies won the Prudential World Cup in England for the first time, the two sides have met in 15 series with the West Indies coming away with eight victories to Pakistan’s six, while one of the series ended in a 2-2 draw.
The home team and tourist will engage each other in five ODIs and two T20s, with Guyana hosting the first two ODIs today and Tuesday, while St Lucia’s Beausejour Stadium located in Gros Islet, is the venue for the other three ODI’s to be played on the July 19, 21 and 24.
The two T20s will be played at the Arnos Vale ground in St Vincent on July 27 and 28, before the Pakistanis, who were not purchased for the upcoming Limacol Caribbean Premier League which bowls off on July 30, return home.
Today’s action will bowl of at 09:00hrs, under the guidance of Trinidad and Tobago’s  Joel Wilson and Paul Reiffel, with Peter Nero as the Reserve umpire, Nigel Llong of England doing the duties of Television Umpire and David Boon a former Australian middle-order batsman, the Match Referee.
The final XI for the Windies will be chosen from: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Christopher Gayle, Johnson Charles, Devon Smith, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Tino Best, Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons.
Pakistan’s XI from: Misbah Ul Haq (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Shahid Afridi, Umar Amin, Abdur Rehman, Asad Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammed Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Akmal and Wahab Riaz.