azhar ali
Pakistan ODI captain Azhar Ali will look to start the series on a positive note Getty

Pakistan take on West Indies in the first One Day International (ODI) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday (30 September).

Where to watch

Match starts at 12pm BST. There is no live coverage of the game in the UK.

Overview

Fresh from their 3-0 drubbing of the West Indies in the Twenty20 international series, Pakistan now turn their attention to the 50 overs format of the game. The hosts (Pakistan are playing their home games in the United Arab Emirates) will come into the game full of confidence and will look to improve upon their ODI rankings.

Currently ranked ninth in the ICC ODI rankings, the Men in Green know that a loss in this series will put their chances of automatic qualification for the ICC 2019 World Cup in jeopardy. However, as the recent T20 series has shown, they have the talent to beat anybody on their day.

In Mohammad Amir, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal and Imad Wasim, Pakistan have players who are capable of winning matches. Their only problem is inconsistency.

West Indies suffered a humiliating 3-0 drubbing in the T20 series. Led by all-rounder Jason Holder, West Indies have the talented Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo. The Caribbeans too lack consistency.

Prediction

Pakistan to win

Betting odds (Ladbrokes)

  • Pakistan to win: 1/2
  • West Indies to win: 13/8

Team news

Pakistan

Squad: Azhar Ali (c), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Sohail Khan.

West Indies:

Squad: Jason Holder (c), Suliemann Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Marlon Samuels.

Pakistan Pakistan cricket West Indies cricket