West Indies win toss, elect to bat in first Test against Pakistan

West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test against Pakistan on Saturday.
The two teams are bottom of the World Test Championship, with one win apiece.

West Indies start the two-match series on a high after beating Sri Lanka 1-0 for its first victory in the current WTC cycle.

Pakistan lost three successive Tests after beginning with a victory against South Africa last year.

Babar Azam has returned to lead the side after Pakistan took the captaincy away from Shan Masood, who lost 12 out of 16 Tests since taking over from Babar in late 2023.

Babar warmed up for the series with a century against a West Indies Select XI in a practice game. Opening batter Azan Awais also scored a hundred and fast bowler Mohammad Ali, returning to the test side after almost two years, took five wickets.

Pakistan haven’t won an away Test since beating Sri Lanka in 2023 when Babar was captain.

Opening batter Abdullah Fazal has been ruled out of the series, and the upcoming three Tests in England, after receiving a lower back injury on Thursday.

Pakistan players (L) and West Indies players stand at attention for the nation anthems at the start of the 1st day of first Test match. AFP

Imam-ul Haq, who missed the last series against Bangladesh, returns to open with Awais while Pakistan handed a debut to slow left-armer Ali Usman.

Usman is the lone specialist spinner and was preferred to the experienced Sajid Khan.

West Indies went in with three fast bowlers — Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales — after Alzarri Joseph made himself unavailable for the series. Jomel Warrican is the specialist spinner for the hosts.

The Brian Lara Cricket Academy becomes the 13th Test venue in the Caribbean, hosting its first Test.

Line-ups:

West Indies: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase (captain), Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seals.

Pakistan: Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Abbas.

Associated Press