After thrashing West Indies 3-0 in the recent T20 series, Pakistan will be looking to do something similar in the coming week or so when the two sides meet in the same amount of ODIs in what is a massive series for both sides with long term implications.
Pakistan head into the series outside the top eight in the ICC rankings in this format and they have just 12 months to get back into that elite else they will be forced to qualify for the next World Cup. West Indies currently sit in eighth place and need to win matches here to avoid being overtaken.
Schedule
1st ODI – 30 Sept at Sharjah
2nd ODI – 2 Oct at Sharjah
3rd ODI – 5 Oct at Abu Dhabi
Pakistan
This is very much Pakistan’s worst format in terms of their rankings and indeed the way they play the game. Azhar Ali remains the captain for it but they don’t look the same side under his leadership that they do the captains of the Test and T20 sides. They very much play a style of Ali which is steady and conservative rather than the risk taking expansive style current one day cricket needs to be played in.
Pakistan head into this series off the back of a 4-1 defeat to England earlier this month but if they can take anything from that it is the fact that they won the final match so they have something to build on. These conditions could suit their style of play in this series but long term things need changing.
West Indies
The last time we saw the West Indies in this format they were giving Australia and South Africa plenty in a tri-series and if they can perform to that level over the next three matches they have every chance of taking something from the series but as ever inner turmoil isn’t helping their cause.
They now have Jason Holder back skippering the side and there is no doubt he brings a calming influence and presence not to mention plenty of quality. He will be devoid of some big names but he usually is when he is in charge of the side but he still gets the best out of them but in these conditions this will be a test of his captaincy credentials.
Head to Head
These two have played 13 series against each other in the past and while West Indies have won five of them none of them have come since 1991. Pakistan have won the last seven series and there has been a draw in amongst them too.
In total Pakistan have a losing match record against West Indies with 55 wins to 69 defeats with three ties. When Pakistan have been at home that record becomes 11 wins for Pakistan to 14 for West Indies with one draw but the recent bias has certainly been with Pakistan.
Betting
Given Pakistan’s recent record in this format of the game it is fair to say West Indies are overpriced for this series but conditions should suit Pakistan here so I don’t think there is an advantage either way and the odds are probably about right when you put everything together.
I will take one bet in the series though and it comes in the form of Pakistan’s top batsman market where I think their captain Azhar Ali is the man to be on. He doesn’t score particularly quickly but the important thing is that he does score. He is the man that the rest of the men are meant to bat around so if all goes to plan he will occupy the crease for long periods.
The wickets should suit his strike rotation and accumulation style and with that in mind 11/4 looks a perfectly acceptable price on the man who is guaranteed to play all three matches to lead the run scoring for the home side.
Tips
Back A.Ali Top Pakistan Series Batsman for a 3/10 stake at 3.75 with Betfred
Back him here:
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