Pakistan to look for Caribbean success

After taking the preceding tri-nation 2000 Trophy limited-overs series and blessed with an abundance of talent, the Pakistanis must feel this is their time.

The key to the series for both sides lies in the batting. Both West Indies and Pakistan are packed with enough firepower in their bowling attacks, so batsmen on either side will have to show an enormous amount of tenacity to help give their respective side the upper hand.

Many sides in international cricket would give anything for as varied an attack as Pakistan’s that comprises Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq with Waqar Younis in reserve.

Quite a few too, would be glad to have a four-pronged fast bowling armoury consisting of the ageing warriors Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, albeit they are in the twilight days of glittering careers, supported by young bucks Reon King and Franklyn Rose.

On the other hand, just as many international sides may shy away from the batting line-ups of the two combatants.

While West Indies lack obvious world class batsmen, Pakistan have the most unpredictable queue.

Brian Lara’s self-imposed exile has thrown the burden of carrying West Indies’ batting onto the shoulders of new captain Jimmy Adams, vice-captain Sherwin Campbell, left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul and, to a lesser extent, wicketkeeper/batsman Ridley Jacobs.

All four have struggled to put together substantial scores consistently in recent Times.

It does not help that the support batting of Adrian Griffith, Chris Gayle, Wavel Hinds, Ricardo Powell and uncapped Ramnaresh Sarwan only have the combined experience of 12 Tests and 563 runs at an average of 28.15.

Over the last two months during two Tests against Zimbabwe and the subsequent tri-nation limited-overs series that also involved Pakistan, what West Indies have lacked in ability they have compensated for with enthusiasm.

Adams has been able to get his side to give 100 per cent every time and in every situation.

Throughout, he has been realistic rather than philosophical. He has noted that giving their all may not be enough and a time will come when they will have to improve in every area of the game to win.

He found that out in the last of the three-match finals in the 2000 Trophy Series, when West Indies were bundled out for a mediocre 114 and, though they fought hard in the field, the runs were just too small for their bowlers to defend.

Adams is also intelligent enough to know that the comebacks with which West Indies were able to get away against lesser lights Zimbabwe will not be allowed by a Pakistan side eager to atone for its own lapses against Australia and Sri Lanka in the last six months.

Similar to West Indies, Pakistan’s batting will revolve around a few key players– captain Moin Khan, opening batsman Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul-Haq, though Wasim Akram is capable of a cavalier lower-order knock.

Saeed’s experience was badly missed at the top of the order during the 2000 Trophy Series.

He is arguably the best opening batsman in the game today which is testimony to his 3,583 runs at an average of 46.53.

With him to shepherd either teenager Imran Nazir, Wajahatullah Wasti or Shahid Afridi, the kind of opening stands Pakistan missed in the preceding limited-overs matches they could very well get in the Tests.

That would take an enormous amount of pressure away from the imposing figure of Inzamam. Easily the best of Pakistan’s current crop of batsmen, he was batted superbly in the limited-overs series and it was always felt if he was dismissed cheaply, the opposition would win.

Others like Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana and Mohammed Wasim, all of whom have shown glimpses of ability in their brief international careers, will have to deliver much more than promise for Pakistan to post formidable totals and threaten West Indies’ record on home soil.

Three years ago, Wasim Akram’s men battered Walsh’s hopeless band 3-0 on the sub-continent, but the conditions are different and so to, is the West Indies’ attitude.