Pakistan will take on the West Indies in the first of the three-match T20I series. This article provides details about Pakistan’s Playing 11 vs West Indies for the first match of the series.
Pakistan Playing 11 vs West Indies- 1st T20I, Pakistan tour of West Indies 2025:
Openers: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan
The Men in Green have had a torrid time in international cricket in the last couple of years, which is evident by the fact that they faced a first-round exit in the last three ICC events, including a loss against the USA.
Other than the on-field performances, the Men in Green have to deal with certain off-field events as well, with several changes in the coaching staff on many occasions since the team’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Things seemed to be under control for now, at least in T20I cricket, with the same group of players playing together for the last few months.
Although the results have not gone the visitors’ way, there is some sort of stability in the team before the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The Salman Ali Agha-led side would like to be on the right side of the result in the first T20I against the West Indies, and they have the resources to do so.
The selectors have decided to stick with the same batting combination that played the last T20I series against Bangladesh, and the team is expected to open the batting with the duo of Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub.
Farhan scored a match-winning half-century in the last T20I against Bangladesh and would like to build on that in the first of the three T20Is against the West Indies.
Ayub, on the other was also able to score runs in the final T20I and would like to start the upcoming series on the right note.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Mohammad Haris (wk), Salman Agha (c), Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf
Like the openers, Pakistan’s middle order also showed signs of form in the final match of the series against Bangladesh after disappointing outings in the first two matches.
The team management would want the middle-order batters to get things right in the first match itself to gain confidence for the matches to come.
The responsibility will be on the shoulders of Captain Salman Ali Agha to guide a relatively inexperienced batting lineup and help the team post an above-par total while batting first.
Having said that, Salman Ali Agha would need the support of Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz, and Hussain Talat from the other end.
Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf
Pakistan is banking on experience in the bowling department for this particular series and has recalled the trio of Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Haris Rauf, all of whom are expected to feature in the first game.
As far as Pakistan’s spin bowling lineup is concerned, it will depend on Mohammad Nawaz, who might be the lone specialist spinner in the playing XI for the first T20I.
Other than Nawaz, Pakistan will have a couple of part-time spin bowling options in the form of Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub, while the trio of fast bowlers will be supported by Fahee Ashraf and Hussain Talat.
The 2009 T20 World Cup champions will have a total of eight bowling options in the playing XI for the first T20I.
