Pakistan hosts West Indies for ODI sequence in intense warmth

Intensive warmth will check the health of gamers when Pakistan hosts the West Indies within the three-match limited-overs worldwide sequence beginning in Multan on Wednesday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board needed to relocate the sequence to Multan from Rawalpindi final week due to the unsure political scenario within the nation. The opposition, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is planning rallies within the federal capital Islamabad, which is adjoining to Rawalpindi.

The #MenInMaroon have arrived in Multan for the 3-match ODI sequence towards @TheRealPCB beginning on pic.twitter.com/uKFUDWEJkT

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) June 6, 2022

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The temperature is anticipated to high 45 levels Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) this week in Multan, and organizers have pushed again the beginning time for video games to 4:00 p.m. native time to present some respite from the extraordinary warmth.

The Pakistan Cricket Board additionally deliberate to supply gamers with ice collars and vests throughout stoppages in play and additional water breaks to maintain them hydrated.

“We’ll try to make the guys understand what they have to do personally to hydrate themselves properly both before, during and after the games,” West Indies head coach Phil Simmons stated Tuesday.

“The heat is going to be extreme, (but) Pakistan are playing in the heat, too, so it’s going to be an even contest when we start the day. How we deal with it before, during and after is going to help us a lot.” West Indies are coming off a 3-0 sequence win over Netherlands final week at Amstelveen, the place their top-order batters scored prolifically. Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope and Kyle Mayers scored centuries whereas Brandon King additionally made 91 not out within the second sport.

The two spinners — Akeal Hosein and Hayden Walsh Junior — took the majority of the wickets, combining for 12 between them.

West Indies will likely be strengthened with the return of Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd, who each missed the sequence towards the Netherlands due to visa points. Both gamers will be a part of the crew in Multan in a while Tuesday.

“That series was good in a way because it gave guys a chance to settle in as a team,” Simmons stated.

“It’s a young team. It’s a case where we needed to play properly. We needed to keep improving and we did that during the series, so it was a good preparation.” The West Indies’ ODI sequence in Pakistan was postponed final yr after a COVID-19 outbreak within the squad in the course of the previous Twenty20 sequence.

The Pakistan squad has spent per week in Lahore, the place the climate is much like Multan. Captain Babar Azam hoped the gamers had been properly ready.

“Definitely it is hot, but we are having a conditioning camp and acclimatising to the weather,” Babar stated.

“As a professional, you have to handle these situations. We do go out to other countries to play, and even during our time in the UAE, we used to face similar temperatures. I think it won’t be a problem.” Pakistan has a powerful top-order batting line-up with the likes of left-handers Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman opening the innings. Babar, within the middle-order, is within the type of his life and has scored prolifically in all of the three codecs of the sport.

Vice-captain Shadab Khan and allrounder Mohammad Nawaz are returning to the ODI crew from accidents. Pakistan additionally has a formidable quick bowling assault with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali all performing properly within the English county championship.

“We already have openers who are doing well and they are the priority and you always make your best ones your priority,” Babar stated.

“These games are crucial for us and to build a team, you have to give players consistent chances.” Squads:

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Zahid Mahmood.

West Indies: Nicholas Pooran (captain), Shai Hope, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Shermon Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Junior.