Pakistan and West Indies face off in the first Test of the two-match series in Multan, with Pakistan currently holding a strong position in the 2023-25 cycle of the World Test Championship. Despite a recent defeat in South Africa, Pakistan aims to continue their winning streak at home after a successful series against England. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is determined to put up a strong fight and end their previous record of finishing in eighth place in the WTC.
In a thrilling first day of the first Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies, Pakistan's Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan fought back with unbeaten half-centuries after Jayden Seales' impressive three-wicket haul sent Pakistan into an early slump. Despite challenging conditions, the two teams put on an exciting display of cricket with Pakistan reaching 143-4 before bad light stopped play. The day ended with a partnership between Shakeel and Rizwan, setting the stage for an exciting Day 2.
Pakistan fought back from a poor start with the help of Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, who were both unbeaten at the end of a fog-hit opening day of the first Test against the West Indies. Shakeel and Rizwan's partnership of 97 after coming together at 46/4 helped Pakistan reach a respectable 143/4, with fast bowler Jayden Seales initially causing trouble for the home team. The dry and grassless pitch of the Multan Stadium is expected to favor spin in the next two days, prompting Pakistan to choose to bat first after winning the toss. However, play was postponed due to early morning fog and poor air quality, resulting in a delayed first session. Shakir and Rizwan's confident performance against a three-spinner West Indies attack was crucial for Pakistan's comeback, with Seales finishing with 3/21.
The International Cricket Council announced on Wednesday that the upcoming T20 World Cup, set to be held in the United States and West Indies, will have the highest number of teams in its history. The tournament will be held at nine venues across North America, including a new 34,000-seater stadium in New York, which will host high-profile matches including India vs Pakistan. The ICC claims this will be the most complex schedule ever drafted for a World Cup event.