West Indies vs Pakistan | 1st ODI | Tarouba | August 08 | Pre-Match Discussion

[Ball Blazer]

Pakistan and West Indies are set to clash in the 1st ODI at Tarouba on August 8, 2025, as part of Pakistan’s tour of the Caribbean. The visitors enter the series with momentum, having recently clinched the T20I series 2-1 against the hosts.

Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c & WK), Salman Agha (VC), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

West Indies squad: To be announced

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[mominsaigol]

I think PK will win 2-1

 

[Ball Blazer]

My Pakistan XI for 1st ODI

Saim Ayub
Abdullah Shafique
Babar Azam
Salman Agha
Mohammad Rizwan
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Faheem Ashraf
Shaheen Afridi
Naseem Shah
Abrar Ahmed

Thoughts?

 

[Rana]

My Pakistan XI for 1st ODI

Saim Ayub
Abdullah Shafique
Babar Azam
Salman Agha
Mohammad Rizwan
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Faheem Ashraf
Shaheen Afridi
Naseem Shah
Abrar Ahmed

Thoughts?

This is announced?

 

[Ball Blazer]

This is announced?

nope. thoughts..

 

[Rana]

nope. thoughts..

I am not convinced with Abdullah Shafique

He serves no purpose in the long run as an opener. @mominsaigol is absolutely correct in his assessment of Sahibzada Farhan being Pakistan’s all format opener and this was the time to give SF the chance with Fakhar out.

Shafique is better suited in the middle at 3 or 4.

Also I a can categorically tell you now with certainty that Rizwan at 4 is a failed project. If the purpose of all of this is to build to the 2027 World Cup, you are already just going there to job if the line up is built around Babar and Rizwan at 3 and 4.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Don't care about this series to be honest

 

[RidiculousMan]

My Pakistan XI for 1st ODI

Saim Ayub
Abdullah Shafique
Babar Azam
Salman Agha
Mohammad Rizwan
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Faheem Ashraf
Shaheen Afridi
Naseem Shah
Abrar Ahmed

Thoughts?

I'd swap positions.

1. Saim
2. Abdullah
3. Babar
4. Rizwan
5. Hasan
6. Salman
7. Nawaz / Faheem
8. Hasan
9. Shaheen
10. Naseem
11. Abrar

 

[mominsaigol]

I am not convinced with Abdullah Shafique

He serves no purpose in the long run as an opener. @mominsaigol is absolutely correct in his assessment of Sahibzada Farhan being Pakistan’s all format opener and this was the time to give SF the chance with Fakhar out.

Shafique is better suited in the middle at 3 or 4.

Also I a can categorically tell you now with certainty that Rizwan at 4 is a failed project. If the purpose of all of this is to build to the 2027 World Cup, you are already just going there to job if the line up is built around Babar and Rizwan at 3 and 4.

I disagree. About the Abdullah part. Agree with the rest.

Abdullah being better then Rizwan at no 4 =/= solving the no 4 problem.

Agha should have never been removed from no 4 after he scored 2 back to back 50's at that position.

1) Fakhar/ Farhan
2) Saim
3) Babar
4) Agha

^^ It should be the top 4. Babar is out of form but Kamran Ghulam has been a bit dissapointing and his current form is low.

Although you could try Farhan at no 3 maybe? Im not sure how that would work though but if We can get fakhar, Saim and Farhan in the whiteball playing 11 somehow I am all for it

 

[Ball Blazer]

The ODI series against West Indies holds great importance for both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan
They must deliver strong performances to prove they still hold value for the Pakistan cricket team

 

[jnaveen1980]

Last 12 months W/L ratio is neck and neck for WI and pakistan

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Expecting big runs from King and Kaptaana. There must be fire in their belly after they were dropped in favor of clowns like Agha.

 

[shamaan]

Farhaan should have been the back up opener.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I hope Rizwan will have a decent series, Pakistan need to beat West Indies if they want to bounce back from their current minnow status

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan should easily beat West Indies in odis.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Should be a whitewash

Was expecting 3-0 win for pak in t20is already

 

[Greenstorm]

My Pakistan XI for 1st ODI

Saim Ayub
Abdullah Shafique
Babar Azam
Salman Agha
Mohammad Rizwan
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Faheem Ashraf
Shaheen Afridi
Naseem Shah
Abrar Ahmed

Thoughts?

Replace Faheem with Hassan Ali from this squad.

Following is the best ODI XI that we can field imo,

1. Saim
2. Farhan
3. Babar
4. Salman
5. Fakhar
6. Hassan Nawaz
7. Rizwan/Harris
8. Abbas Afridi/Khushdil
9. Naseem
10. Shaheen
11. Sufyan

 

[Rana]

Should be a whitewash

Was expecting 3-0 win for pak in t20is already

West Indies cricket board want to do this to Pakistan.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

My Pakistan XI for 1st ODI

Saim Ayub
Abdullah Shafique
Babar Azam
Salman Agha
Mohammad Rizwan
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Faheem Ashraf
Shaheen Afridi
Naseem Shah
Abrar Ahmed

Thoughts?

This will most likely be the XI they play

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Even if Pakistan win 3-0, it will do nothing to rectify Pakistan's deeper issues in this format. West Indies are a terrible ODI team that has missed out on both the last World Cup and the last two Champions Trophies. The best Pakistan can hope for is for emerging players like Saim Ayub, Hassan Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed to give performances of substance in this series.

Saim Ayub was really starting to find his footing in this format before his injury. I would love to see him score a blazing century or two, filled with his trademark flurry of outrageous shots. I would also like to see how Hassan Nawaz does down the order, if given the opportunity. There’s alot of untapped potential with this kid.

 

[gazza619]

Replace Faheem with Hassan Ali from this squad.

Following is the best ODI XI that we can field imo,

1. Saim
2. Farhan
3. Babar
4. Salman
5. Fakhar
6. Hassan Nawaz
7. Rizwan/Harris
8. Abbas Afridi/Khushdil
9. Naseem
10. Shaheen
11. Sufyan

Fakhar has a fantastic record an an opener in ODIs. Surely he should be opening with Saim?

 

[RKhan_Cricket]

Expected scores from Babar Azam

40
58
7
You don't need a big brain to know about his contributions these days.

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

This will most likely be the XI they play

You can't leave sufiyan muqeem best spinner from pakistan bro this guy has to play no matter what.

 

[shamaan]

Fakhar has a fantastic record an an opener in ODIs. Surely he should be opening with Saim?

He is injured.

 

[mominsaigol]

Expected scores from Babar Azam

40
58
7
You don't need a big brain to know about his contributions these days.

I'll be the first prediction.

Babar will probs get one century in this tour as wi is his favourite team

 

[sweep_shot]

I expect Pakistan to win 2-1 or maybe even 3-0.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

You can't leave sufiyan muqeem best spinner from pakistan bro this guy has to play no matter what.

Nawaz brings an all-round option and is a left-arm spinner. If Sufiyan plays, it will be over Abrar.

 

[sweep_shot]

I am not sure if Nawaz is a good option for ODI. He seems more suited to T20.

Anyway, Sufiyan must play.

 

[Kianig89]

Let's hope the games last 100 overs , more like the farcical Test series in Pakistan which games finished in 2½ days

 

[RidiculousMan]

Why can't Faheem Ashraf open? It's a fact that Heyson likes bits and pieces. Faheem can have the license to express himself up top.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I am not sure if Nawaz is a good option for ODI. He seems more suited to T20.

Anyway, Sufiyan must play.

He;s not a good option in any format. But he's a minnow-basher with a good record against West Indies, and for the sake of balance they will need to play him.

 

[PAKFAN12]

Wishing injury on a player to make room for your favourite isn’t a support, it’s the toxic mindset hurting Pakistan cricket .

 

[gazza619]

He;s not a good option in any format. But he's a minnow-basher with a good record against West Indies, and for the sake of balance they will need to play him.

To be honest Hasan Nawaz is one of the better hitters Pakistan has found and is a big upgrade to the likes of Asif Ali & Azam Khan. He hits the ball in all areas. I would back him

 

[gazza619]

To be honest Hasan Nawaz is one of the better hitters Pakistan has found and is a big upgrade to the likes of Asif Ali & Azam Khan. He hits the ball in all areas. I would back him

Sorry @RedwoodOriginal it seems like you were referring to M Nawaz?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Sorry @RedwoodOriginal it seems like you were referring to M Nawaz?

No prob bro. Yes, I was referring to Mohammad Nawaz

 

[Aqib_mustafa]

No prob bro. Yes, I was referring to Mohammad Nawaz

Nawaz is like jadeja in odis can dry runs and take wickets as well he is good as a second spinner first will he abrar or sufiyan

 

[sweep_shot]

Nawaz is like jadeja in odis can dry runs and take wickets as well he is good as a second spinner first will he abrar or sufiyan

Sufiyan should be picked ahead of Abrar.

 

[gazza619]

Nawaz is like jadeja in odis can dry runs and take wickets as well he is good as a second spinner first will he abrar or sufiyan

I think we have see enough of M Nawaz to conclude that he is an average cricketer. Jadeja has actually won games for India.

 

[shamaan]

Sufiyan should be picked ahead of Abrar.

Ideally both should play however that won't happen as both are number 11 batters.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Nawaz is like jadeja in odis can dry runs and take wickets as well he is good as a second spinner first will he abrar or sufiyan

He is more like the Temu version of Jadeja. You should look up his bowling numbers in ODI. They are truly horrible. He has an atrocious record against every top team and has only done well against minnows or teams like West Indies

 

[Nasty Naz]

My guess:

Saim
Abdullah
Babar
Rizwan
Agha
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Faheem
Shaheen
Naseem
Sufiyan

With Fakhar constantly having injury nowadays, I wonder if they can rely on him to be fit for the 2027 WC. I think they really ought to figure out if Abdullah or someone else is the adequate replacement for Fakhar by 2027. If it happens to be fit and in form, then great but they need to ensure there is a contingency plan with Fakhar's age and fitness. Fakhar will be 37 by 2027 WC and it's fair to wonder if he will be good enough by then.

The big intrigue of the series will be Hasan Nawaz. Can he translate his T20 success into ODI's and be that much needed power middle order bat Pakistan desperately needs.

Outside of Saim/Sufiyan/Hasan this is a very veteran group. Goes without saying but they need to have success in ODI's if Rizwan hopes to retain his captaincy.

 

[harshjoshi87]

West Indies have to play World Cup qualifiers if they fail to win this ODI series.

West Indies can't play spin in middle overs, so easy win for Pakistani team.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c & WK), Salman Agha (VC), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

We don't have many options here, so I think this could be the playing 11, also I don't think they are gonna play Hussain Talat over Faheem or nawaz

Abdullah
Saim
Babar
Rizwan
Agha
Hasan Nawaz
Mohammad Nawaz
Faheem
Shaheen
Naseem
Sufiyan