Pakistan Vs Westindies

Pak seek first Caribbean Test series victory

Boosted by a series victory in the one-dayers, Pakistan is eyeing a first-ever Test series win on Caribbean soil in the next two weeks.

Pakistan hopes winning the limited-overs matchup 3-2 will be the platform to end more than 50 years of frustration on Caribbean pitches when the two-match Test series against West Indies opens on Thursday at Guyana National Stadium.

Pakistan has suffered four defeats (1958, 1977, 1993, 2000) and two draws (1988, 2005) in six series in West Indies.

 West Indies would be satisfied with winning one of the Tests, let alone both. The home side hasn't tasted Test success since February 2009 when it defeated England at Kingston, Jamaica.

Since then, it has counted eight defeats and nine draws against England, Bangladesh, Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Both teams have had messy buildups, with the host plagued by public spats between key players and the West Indies Cricket Board, and Pakistan also wobbled by disputes.

Pakistan chairman of selectors Mohsin Khan threatened to resign over the composition of the Test squad while there were reports of a rift between one-day captain Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis following that series.

Both teams will also be shorn of crucial batsmen for both Tests.

Opener Chris Gayle, one of those involved in accusations and counterclaims with the WICB, is instead dominating for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the lucrative IPL.

Pakistan has been hit by the late withdrawal of middle-order rock Younis Khan due to the death of his older brother, Shamshad.

While Gayle is absent, another of the disgruntled players, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, returns to the team.

Chanderpaul, who was axed from the limited-overs side after West Indies' failed World Cup campaign, has been publicly critical of coach Ottis Gibson and CEO of the WICB Ernest Hilaire, and it remains to be seen if his presence will lift the dressing room.

The 36-year-old Chanderpaul, whose 9,063 runs in 129 Tests put him second only to Brian Lara among West Indians, is ranked No. 8 in the ICC Test rankings.

With Gayle missing at the top of the order, opportunity calls for the exciting Lendl Simmons.

Simmons enjoyed a prolific return to West Indies colors in the five one-day internationals, amassing four half centuries among a series-high 279 runs. The 26-year-old played the last of his three Tests against England in Chester-le-Street two years ago.

Another welcome return for West Indies is that of fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who has been out for two years with a back injury that required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation program.

Edwards, 29, has taken 122 wickets in 43 Tests, and is likely to share the new ball with fellow Barbadian, Kemar Roach.

Batsman Marlon Samuels is another seeking to revive his Test career after a two-year hiatus due to an ICC ban for his alleged links with a bookmaker.

The Jamaican, who warmed up with a double century in an inter-squad match on Monday, will face competition for a middle-order spot with Chanderpaul, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Brendan Nash.

Legspinner Devendra Bishoo will make his Test debut in front of his fellow Guyanese after an encouraging start to his international career at one-day level.

Pakistan has no player with Test experience in the Caribbean following the departure of Younis.

But captain Misbah-ul-Haq is unlikely to allow his team to be affected by that fact.

The 36-year-old Misbah has been a calming influence since last September when he took over a squad torn apart by match-fixing bans and still unable to play home internationals due to safety concerns.

Misbah's four Tests as captain have brought him six half centuries in seven innings and helped Pakistan to a drawn series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates and a 1-0 victory away to New Zealand.

Misbah was also efficient in the recent one-day series, where he averaged 92, and the silky right-hander struck a century in the only Test warm-up against a Guyana XI last Sunday.

Allrounder Mohammad Hafeez, in a rich vein of form with both bat and ball, heads the batting along with Misbah and the exciting Umar Akmal.

Fast bowler Umar Gul, rested for the ODIs, returns to the team while Saeed Ajmal, the offspinner with the magical doosra, is also vital to the attack.

Squads:

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Devon Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh, Ravi Rampaul, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Fidel Edwards.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ai, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Hammad Azam, Mohammad Salman, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed, Junaid Khan.