Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

WI vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | WI vs PAK 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | West Indies vs Pakistan 1st T20I Key Players | Barbados Pitch Report

The cricket continues to come thick and fast as preparation for the T20 World Cup ramps up. In fact, the cricket comes so thick and fast for West Indies that this series is set to begin less than two days after their ODI series defeat to Australia, of which they will be looking to rectify here against the predictably unpredictable Pakistan.

However, a number of stars will return to the Windies T20I side, providing another reminder of their prowess in this format. After a disappointing and somewhat surprising 3-2 defeat to South Africa, West Indies then demolished Australia 4-1 as confidence continues to rise ahead of their quest to defend their T20 World Cup crown later this year. Kieron Pollard, who missed the Australia T20I series, as well as Gayle, Russell and Bravo, will all be available for selection here.

However, a number of the Windies batsmen have poor head-to-head records against Pakistan. For Pakistan, this is a great opportunity to find form in conditions that offer assistance to spin. In fact, a number of their players have strong CPL experience.

But, it is hard to predict which Pakistan will show up here, as well as in the T20 World Cup later this year. Their T20 issues are well known, and to stand a chance in this series, as well as in the World Cup, Babar Azam’s men will be keen to iron out those concerns in this four-match series against one of the T20 powerhouses.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

West Indies:

• Evin Lewis has been in damaging form in the Windies’ home season to date. In 11 T20Is this year, Lewis is striking at a superb 175.89, with 343 runs at an average of 31.18. In five T20s at Kensington Oval, Lewis has struck 146 runs at an average of 36.50 and strike rate of 160.44.
• However, Lewis has largely struggled against Pakistan in the past. Apart from one score of 91, Lewis’ other five knocks yielded just 24 runs.
• Lendl Simmons was West Indies’ highest run-scorer in the recent series vs Australia (165, avg. 33.00, SR 122.22). However, West Indies will be hoping Simmons improves on a substandard record vs Pakistan that reads: 8 inns, 112 runs, avg. 16.00, SR 107.69.
• Simmons has good knowledge of Kensington Oval, with 18 T20s of experience. In these matches, he has struck 414 runs at an average of 25.88 and strike rate of 112.81, so West Indies will be hoping for an improvement.
• Chris Gayle found some form late in the Australia series in what’s been a tough year in T20Is for the Universe Boss (12 inns, 191 runs, avg. 17.36, SR 120.88). Also, he’s played just the three T20Is vs Pakistan (back in 2013-2014), with no success (11 runs, avg. 3.66). In 10 T20s at Barbados, Gayle has struck 282 runs at an average of 35.25 and strike rate of 133.02.
• Dwayne Bravo has spent some time batting at five in recent times. He has the most runs for any current WI player vs Pakistan (6 inns, 190 runs, avg. 31.66, SR 103.26). However, he’s historically struggled with ball vs Pakistan, with just one wicket in six matches at an average of 120.
• Hayden Walsh was recently player of the series vs Australia. He was outstanding, with 11 wickets in five T20Is at a strike rate of just 10.
• Obed McCoy is set to return. He has been superb in the Windies’ home season, with 14 wickets in seven matches (econ. 7.04, SR 10.70). His slower balls can be lethal on what is expected to be a slow Barbados surface.

Pakistan:

• Babar Azam has a fine record vs West Indies. In fact, no player has more runs in WI-PAK T20Is than Babar (10 inns, 403 runs, avg. 57.57, SR 125.15). Also, he scored the most runs in Pakistan’s T20I series in West Indies in 2017 (137 runs, avg. 34.25, SR 103.78).
• Mohammad Rizwan is enjoying a fine year in T20s. He has amassed 1,206 runs in 25 matches at an average of 67.00 and strike rate of 135.20. This will be his first ever T20 vs West Indies.
• Sohaib Maqsood struck over 400 runs in PSL 2021 at a strike rate in excess of 150. He will be key in solving Pakistan’s middle order/finishing. As will Mohammad Hafeez, who has a poor past record vs WI: 5 inns, 50 runs, avg. 10.00, SR 80.64.
• Shadab Khan has historically enjoyed playing against West Indies. No bowler has more wickets in WI-PAK T20Is than Shadab’s 15 in seven matches (avg. 9.20, SR 10.7, econ. 5.14). He took 10 wickets in four T20Is in West Indies in 2017.
• Imad Wasim also has a fine record vs WI (7 inns, 11 wickets, avg. 12.54, econ. 5.30, SR 14.1). Hasan Ali is not far behind with 10 wickets in eight T20Is vs West Indies (avg. 20.60, econ. 7.92, SR 15.6).
• Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken 25 wickets in 20 T20s this year. He will be key in both the powerplay and death overs for Pakistan, which increases his wicket-taking potential.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 14, West Indies 3, Pakistan 11.
• Andre Russell is yet to score a run in two T20Is vs Pakistan. He has two wickets, though.
• The last T20I at Barbados was between these two teams, back in 2017. Pakistan chased 113 with six wickets to spare.

Possible Playing 11

Kieron Pollard missed the Australia T20I series due to injury. If he returns, it will be interesting to see who misses out.

West Indies: 1. Lendl Simmons, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Chris Gayle, 4. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 5. Kieron Pollard (c)/Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Andre Russell, 7. Fabian Allen, 8. Jason Holder/Fidel Edwards, 9. Dwayne Bravo, 10. Hayden Walsh Jr, 11. Obed McCoy

Pakistan could look to rotate throughout the series. However, given the likes of Shadab have performed well vs West Indies in the past, Pakistan could look to go with him first over Usman Qadir.

Pakistan: 1. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 2. Babar Azam (c), 3. Fakhar Zaman, 4. Sohaib Maqsood, 5. Mohammad Hafeez/Sharjeel Khan, 6. Azam Khan, 7. Shadab Khan, 8. Imad Wasim, 9. Hasan Ali, 10. Mohammad Hasnain, 11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Kensington Oval Barbados Pitch Report and Weather

Kieron Pollard heavily criticised the Barbados surfaces for the ODI series against Australia (details here). In CPL 2019, the average first innings score here was 149.2, and one feels that any score in that region here will be a tough chase given that conditions will likely suit spin. The team batting first won three of those five matches.

Some rain is forecast in Barbados. Hopefully it should clear up enough to allow for a result.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

This shapes up as an intruiging clash simply due to how unpredictable Pakistan is. A number of the Pakistani players possess strong head-to-head records vs Windies, but the home side looks more focused now for a World Cup around the corner. Windies to win.