Babar Azam will led Pakistan in West Indies Tests | PC- AFP
Babar Azam is back as Pakistan's Test captain, replacing Shan Masood, with his first assignment against the West Indies in the Caribbean.
Currently, Pakistan are crawling at the bottom of the WTC 2025/27 Points Table after two series, one of which was an embarrassing whitewash in Bangladesh.
However, the Babar Azam & company can turn the tables around, with four more series to go, in the race to the WTC 2027 final at The Oval, London.
Babar Azam on Pakistan's preparations, West Indies' competitiveness
Ahead of the first Test against West Indies, Pakistan's captain Babar Azam spoke highly of the opposition and his team's preparations.
Notably, the visitors played a practice match against West Indies Select XI, where the skipper notched a century, while Shan Masood, Abdullah Fazal, Mohammad Awais Zafar and Salman Ali Agha played well for their respective half-centuries. Mohammad Ali was the most impressive bowler for them, registering a five-wicket haul against the Windies side.
“We are looking forward to the start of the Test series. Playing in the West Indies is always challenging because the conditions are different and the home side is highly competitive in familiar surroundings,” Babar Azam stated.
"The four-day match was extremely valuable as it allowed the players to adapt to the conditions. It was encouraging to see both our batters and bowlers perform well, but Test cricket demands consistency, patience and discipline over five days,” he added.
Pakistan vs West Indies rivalry in a nutshell
Pakistan and West Indies have shared a rich history in cricket. Considered the most unpredictable teams in world cricket, the two teams were known to produce the deadliest bowling attacks in the history, from Wasim Akram to Malcolm Marshall, from Waqar Younis to Curtly Ambrose, from Shoaib Akhtar to Courtney Walsh.
Their rivalry peaked during the 1980s and 90s, but Pakistan vs West Indies is still one of the most awaited battles. They have a strong head-to-head battle, with 56 Test matches played between them. The Asian side has won on 22 occasions, while 19 matches have gone the Windies' way. Notably, 15 Test matches have been drawn.
Moreover, the Asian giants are visiting the Caribbean for a Test series after a gap of five years.
Back-to-back overseas Tests to decide Pakistan's WTC fate
Pakistan are scheduled to play two Test matches in the Caribbean, with the first game scheduled at Tarouba on July 25 before the caravan moves to Port of Spain for the second match.
After the Windies tour, the Asian team will head to England for another riveting Test series, with three matches to be played at Headingley, Lord’s and Edgbaston.
These two series will decide Pakistan’s fate in the ongoing WTC cycle, and cement Babar’s legacy as Test captain.
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