Pakistan and West Indies promised a strong finish when they met in the first Test in Multan on Friday despite being at the bottom of the World Test Championship.
Pakistan is currently in eighth place in the 2023-25 WTC cycle, with its rivals occupying last place, well behind finalists Australia and South Africa.
Captain Shan Masood said the two-Test series was important for Pakistan, which finished sixth and seventh in the first two cycles of the WTC.
“This cycle is ending, so this series is important for us as we want to become a better team by being undefeated at home,” he told reporters on Thursday.
Pakistan ended a winless run of 11 tests at home by beating England 2-1 in October and Masood wants his team to continue winning at home despite a 2-0 defeat in South Africa this month.
“We won against England, so it will be important for us to keep that momentum going against the West Indies,” Masood said.
West Indies finished eighth in the previous two WTCs and captain Kraigg Brathwaite wants to end on a positive note this time.
“I think this series is very important as there are two Tests left in this cycle… so we want to start the year strong and that is our focus,” Brathwaite said.
He said his players are ready for Pakistan’s spin attack led by Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who took 39 wickets between them against England.
“We have played in spin conditions in Bangladesh and these conditions are similar, so you have to be disciplined and brave against any bowler,” Brathwaite said.
Pakistan deployed industrial fans and patio heaters to dry out the Multan pitch and secure their series victory against England after heavy rain.
They are ready to use the same tactic again if needed and the second Test will also be played in Multan from January 25.
The tourists got a taste of those conditions in their three-day practice match in Islamabad, where Alick Athanaze scored a half-century in both innings and newcomer Amir Jangoo scored an unbeaten 63.
West Indies used a three-pronged spin attack of Kevin Sinclair, Jomel Warrican and Gudakesh Motie in that match but will be without paceman Kemar Roach, who is unwell.
Batsman and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva was overlooked.
test division
Champions Australia and South Africa will play the championship final at Lord’s in June.
However, residents of the lower reaches of the WTC, such as Pakistan and the West Indies, will be wary of reports that leading nations such as India, Australia and England favor a two-tier system of promotion and relegation.
That plan could mean lower-ranked teams will not be able to play tests against top-tier nations.
“If there is a two-tier system, then it has to be exciting,” Masood said. “There should be relegation and promotion of teams and each team should carry out more tests.
“We want more and more Test cricket. The setback for most countries is that they only play four to five Tests a year and this is painful. “
