Trinidad: Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan expressed confidence in his bowling unit’s ability to recover as his team prepares for the decisive third match in their ODI series against the West Indies. The series, currently tied at 1-1, will conclude at Brian Lara Stadium on Tuesday.
The West Indies secured a victory in the second ODI at the same venue, successfully chasing down a revised target of 181 runs in a rain-shortened match. The Caribbean side’s triumph was largely due to an unbeaten partnership of 77 runs between Roston Chase and Justin Greaves.
Chase and Greaves capitalized on the bowling of Pakistan’s part-timers, Saim Ayub and Salman Agha, who each conceded 33 runs. Rizwan, however, remains optimistic about the duo’s potential contributions in the series decider.
Rizwan refrained from confirming their selection for the final match but backed them to perform if chosen. “You could say our fifth bowler gave away too many runs, but in recent years, Salman Agha and Saim Ayub have both bowled well for us,” Rizwan commented post-match.
The West Indies’ victory marked their first win over Pakistan in over six years. Their last triumph against Pakistan occurred during the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup with a seven-wicket win in Nottingham.
The West Indies, having missed qualification for the 2023 World Cup, are focusing on building for a return in 2027. Coach Daren Sammy and captain Shai Hope emphasized the series against Pakistan as part of their preparation efforts.
Hope highlighted the importance of partnerships and continuous improvement. “We always speak about partnerships and we just want to get better in every area, so I am happy with the win today,” he said, acknowledging the key roles played by Chase, Greaves, and Sherfane Rutherford in their recent victory.