Live Cricket Streaming: WestIndies Vs India 1st Test

Expectedly or not, the old diseases have come back to haunt again. The all too familiar collapse and the sheer inability to wrap up the tail after you have the opposition right on the mat. For the first time in this tour and much to the relief of the host team, the matches swim across to Antigua from the “Indian” Trinidad, or that’s how the hosts would want to refer to and why not. Rank turners, massive crowd support (if any) and 3 games into the tour unbeaten and this is not what a host nation would expect, leave alone wanting it, save for the groundsmen.

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Live Cricket Streaming: WestIndies Vs India 5th ODI

Expectedly or not, the old diseases have come back to haunt again. The all too familiar collapse and the sheer inability to wrap up the tail after you have the opposition right on the mat. For the first time in this tour and much to the relief of the host team, the matches swim across to Antigua from the “Indian” Trinidad, or that’s how the hosts would want to refer to and why not. Rank turners, massive crowd support (if any) and 3 games into the tour unbeaten and this is not what a host nation would expect, leave alone wanting it, save for the groundsmen.

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Live Cricket Streaming: WestIndies Vs India

Expectedly or not, the old diseases have come back to haunt again. The all too familiar collapse and the sheer inability to wrap up the tail after you have the opposition right on the mat. For the first time in this tour and much to the relief of the host team, the matches swim across to Antigua from the “Indian” Trinidad, or that’s how the hosts would want to refer to and why not. Rank turners, massive crowd support (if any) and 3 games into the tour unbeaten and this is not what a host nation would expect, leave alone wanting it, save for the groundsmen.

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Live Cricket Streaming: West Indies Vs Pakistan 2nd Test

Among all the criticism heaped on West Indies cricket in recent years, one of the foremost has been the lack of resolve shown by their players who have appeared diffident, in contrast to the weight of the great tradition they bear. Too many times, dominating positions have been frittered away, conveying the impression that they seemingly do not care to gain ground. The hurt is magnified, given that that the West Indies is the only place outside the sub-continent where cricket is still, hopefully, much more than just a game.

That is why the win in the first Test against Pakistan should ideally be much more than just another win - it was the first in a Test in almost two years. What was more heartening to see was what led to that win. The fight shown by the lower order, where the last two wickets added in excess of 50 runs in both innings in a low-scoring game where the winning margin was 40. Above all, the fight displayed by Darren Sammy who, with a Man of the Match performance, showed that he might also have the skills to be a contributing player at Test level in addition to being a willing captain.

All of which should be celebrated much more than a win, because, in isolation, the victory itself might just prove to be a one-off considering the various ills plaguing West Indies cricket. The final game in yet another two-Test series that has promised so much will give a stronger indication if the earlier win was more than just that. If Sammy does manage to pull off another victory, he would have bought a lot of time against the doubters. Even a draw will help, but a loss will lead to increasing calls of ‘we told you so’.

To consolidate on their success in the first Test, West Indies will need to address their serious vulnerability while facing spin, especially against Saeed Ajmal. When your opener [Devon Smith] fails to last even an over against the opposition’s part-time offspinner in Tests [Mohammad Hafeez], it reflects poorly on the skillsets of those playing at the highest level. The surface at Warner Park, though, should suit West Indies much more than the vicious turner at Providence that turned survival against quality spin into a lottery, one in which the hosts didn’t enjoy much luck.




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Fire In Babylon Highlights Windies’ Glory

The excitement of cricket odds has since waned for the West Indies, but there was a time when they dominated the sport, and cricket online betting fans can relive their glory days when watching the new film, Fire in Babylon.

Colin Croft, former fast bowler, was an aggressive player and his cricket odds of 8/29 against Pakistan in 1977 are still the best by a fast bowler from the West Indies in Test.
“We were so far ahead of our time. We were 20 years ahead of the rest of the world. We were fitter than any side at the time.”

“The problem is we did not build on what we achieved, we just thought another Viv Richards would appear and continue the success.”
“Those in charge were complacent and it will take another 20 years for us to get back where we were.”

Part of the reason for their success at the 1975 World Cup was due in large part to their captain, Clive Lloyd, who took home Man of the Match after the Windies defeated Australia by 17 runs. They then did the same at the 1979 World Cup when they defeated England by 92 runs.

“I don’t think you will ever see another team dominate the sport the way we did for 15 years without losing a single series, but the aim must be for West Indies cricket to improve – it means so much to the people both in the Caribbean and living elsewhere.”

What happened for cricket odds around the world between 1976 and 1994 when the Windies were involved is a thing of beauty; they lost just one Test series in that period, thanks to a combination of sheer pace, thrilling batting and athletic fielding.

The 2011 World Cup wasn’t all that cricket online betting fans expected with the Windies winning 3 out of the 6 matches played, beating Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands.

The opening of the movie not only reunited some of the team’s former players, but also celebrities such as Hugh Grant, Mick Jagger and Sadie Frost, as well as Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, today’s top English players of cricket odds.

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Ready For National Duty If Called

 Embattled West Indian fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who was recently engaged in a war of words with the West Indies Cricket Board over fitness, says he is ready for national duty if his services are required.

The Jamaican was of the view that the struggling West Indies can turn the tables on the world's No. 1 Test team India, when they cross swords in a three-match series in the Caribbean in June-July.

"I am always looking forward to play cricket for the West Indies. I'm looking forward to play against India if selected. It is not in my hands. I just have to make sure that I do what's necessary on my part and leave the rest to the selectors, whether they find me fit to select or not.

"Basically I'm just trying to enjoy my cricket. And enjoy my time here. That's what I'm doing now," Taylor said on Friday.

"I'm concentrating playing in the IPL (for Pune Warriors). But whenever the West Indies duty calls, I'll make sure that I'll be there to serve it."

Commenting on India's upcoming tour of the West Indies, Taylor said, "Once we get the right combination, it'll be a tough one. We are used to the conditions. If we exploit the conditions well, hopefully we can clinch a 1-0 victory over the Indians."

"They are the number one team in the world. Everyone wants to do well against the number one team. We want to do well against India. That's how we are going to move up in the rankings once you start doing well against top teams. We have to ensure that we have the things in place," he added.

Declining to comment on the controversy surrounding him and the WICB, Taylor said he was trying to move on and preparing for a comeback into the national side.

"Those are things of the past. I don't really want to shed too much light on that. I am just looking to move on forward from here. Right now I am concentrating on my game and on ensuring that I'm ready to represent the West Indies whenever I'm called upon."

The WICB had yesterday hit back at Taylor for claiming that the board did not check on his injury, saying the paceman left to play in the IPL without taking clearance from its appointed therapists.

Taylor, on the other hand, had said WICB did not contact him about his back injury, which he had suffered during a regional four-day tournament back home, before he left to join Pune Warriors, and it only did so on April 7, once he had arrived in India.

Asked whether it would be difficult to represent WICB, which has raised questions over his commitment to improve his fitness, he said, "It not the right time to talk about that. Whenever the time comes, I will definitely cross the bridge." Taylor, who has taken 98 wickets in 66 ODIs and 82 wickets in 29 Tests, said constant injuries had hampered his progress.

"It's not a matter of disappearance. I have been in and out due to injuries. Haven't been able to play regularly as I used to.

"(My career has been) hampered by injuries. I was on the path to achieve my targets which I had set out (for myself). Its just that as a career, whenever it ends I can say that I have achieved this much if not for injuries I would have reached my goals. However, I'm trying to reset the goals and achieve as much as possible," he added.

Taylor had words of praise for Pune Warriors skipper Yuvraj Singh and said the dashing batsman was a great leader and the team was trying to learn from him.

"He's a great player. Sitting and watching him marshal his troops it is clear that he has the (leadership) ability. He tries to be as cool as possible whatever the situation. He has been able to make the correct decisions under pressure situations. That's one of the things we try to pick from him."

"Whenever the pressure comes, he tries to take it. Even though we have made lost a few games, we have taken a couple of them till the last over despite being in a down and out situation. That's because of the decisions he has taken. I think he has the quality in him," the fast bowler said.

"He is a lot more mature. He has been hitting the ball well and getting back to form. That's something which is good for him and the team," Taylor added.

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Live Cricket Streaming: Pakistan Vs WestIndies

Pakistan will be playing 2 Test Matches against West Indies in West Indies

Pakistan	Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Younis Khan, Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Salman (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam
West Indies	Darren Sammy (Capt), Devon Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh (wk), Fidel Edwards, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul

Pakistan	Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt), Younis Khan, Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Salman (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Hammad Azam
West Indies	Darren Sammy (Capt), Devon Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh (wk), Fidel Edwards, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul

Pakistani Cricket Team after wining One Day series against West Indies Cricket Team, is going to play two test matches. Moral of Pakistani Cricket Team is surely high enough to defeat West Indies in this 2 Test Matches Series. West Indies Nation, Cricket Board and Players are extremely worried after ODI Series defeat, therefore they have decided to bring Shivnarine Chanderpaul back into West Indies Team Squad.

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West Indies Announces Squad For First Test Against Pakistan

West Indies Cricket Board has announced a 13-man squad for the first Test match against Pakistan, set to start on May 12, at the Providence, Guyana. WICB have recalled Shivnarine Chanderpaul, while Ramnaresh Sarwan and talented middle-order batsman, Marlon Samuels have been retained from the team that lost the five matches One Day International series 2-3, to Pakistan.

Chanderpaul, who was in midst of a controversy with WICB administrators and Chief Ernest Hilaire, brushed aside his differences, after he was recalled to the squad. The left-hander had written letters to the Chief and sought his explanation on comments he made about senior players in the team, after their quarter-finals World Cup defeat, at the hands of Pakistan.

The squad comprises of experienced campaigners like Chanderpaul, Sarwan and fast bowler, Fidel Edwards. Samuels, who made a comeback to international cricket in the ODI series, returns to Test cricket after a three-year absence. The right-hander served a ban imposed by the International Cricket Council, for his alleged connections with bookies.

Youngsters, Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo would be expected to provide flair to the batting order, which would be assisted by Brendan Nash. Wicket-keeper batsman, Carlton Baugh, is included to keep gloves in the series. The bowling department also has a solid look with the presence of fast bowlers Kemar Roach, Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul.

Ironically, the weakest link of the squad happens to be the captain, Darren Sammy, who after an impressive Test debut against England a few years ago, looks less of a Test match player with every passing day.

Leg-spinner, Devendra Bishoo, who was remarkable in the ODI series, is set to make his Test match debut at home. The youngster has impressed all with his great control, flight and guile, which caught Pakistan’s batsmen by surprise throughout the limited-over matches.

A win in the Test series would help West Indies climb to sixth spot, in the Test rankings table. The hosts are without a win in Test cricket in the last 18 matches.

The first Test starts on Thursday in Providence and the second Test is scheduled from May 20, at St.Kitts. Considering the lack of experience in the Pakistani squad, the series is an ideal opportunity for the hosts to end their barren run, in the longer format of the game.

Test Squad: Devon Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh (wk), Darren Sammy (capt), Fidel Edwards, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul.

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Guyana Openers Solid In Draw

Half-centuries from Trevon Griffith and Shemroy Barrington, and solid contributions from Narsingh Deonarine and Shivnarine Chanderpaul ensured Guyana's two-day game against the Pakistanis in Georgetown petered out into a draw. Openers Griffith and Barrington made sure the Pakistani bowlers would have to earn their stripes as they added 77 together. Barrington, who eventually fell leg-before to Saeed Ajmal, was the top scorer with 58, while Griffith made 55.

Chanderpaul, who was named in the squad for the first Test, and Deonarine backed up the openers with 44 and 40 respectively. Five bowlers picked up wickets, with only Umar Gul missing out. Ajmal was the most successful, with figures of 2 for 41 from 15 overs.

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Chanderpaul, Edwards In Test Squad

Chanderpaul has been confirmed as part of West Indies' squad for the first Test against Pakistan, starting in Guyana on Thursday. The 13-man group also includes the legspinner Devendra Bishoo, who is expected to make his Test debut, along with the fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who hasn't played for his country in two years due to a serious back injury.

The batsman Marlon Samuels is also in the line-up, and if selected he will play his first Test for more than three years, having served his ban for alleged involvement with illegal bookmakers. Of the 15 men chosen for a practice game in Guyana earlier this week, the opener Kraigg Brathwaite and the allrounder Andre Russell missed out on the final Test squad.

Brathwaite will remain in Guyana to work with the batting consultant Desmond Haynes, and his absence means Devon Smith's likely opening partner will be Lendl Simmons, whose only three Tests so far came in early 2009. Brendan Nash will be vice-captain to Darren Sammy, who is hoping to lead West Indies to their first Test victory in 18 Tests.

At least he will have at his disposal the experience of Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, whose international careers appeared to be in doubt when, along with Chris Gayle, they were left out of the squad for the opening one-dayers against Pakistan. Chanderpaul was upset at being dropped and at some of the comments from the WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire, but has been welcomed back in to the side.

At the other end of the experience scale is Bishoo, who was the leading wicket-taker in the five-match ODI series, with 11 victims at 17.18. He will be keen to make his debut in his home country, and his rise has meant there was no place for Sulieman Benn, who has been West Indies' preferred spinner for most of the past two years.

West Indies are seventh on the Test rankings table, but they will move up to sixth if they win the two-match series against Pakistan. The first Test starts on Thursday in Providence and the second Test begins the following Friday in St Kitts.

Test Squad: Devon Smith, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brendan Nash, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh (wk), Darren Sammy (capt), Fidel Edwards, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul.

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Afridi Says Never Wanted To Tour West Indies

Pakistan’s captain in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals, Shahid Khan Afridi said Sunday that he never wanted to tour West Indies but only went there on insistence of fans and former cricketers.

He was talking to The Sports Encounter correspondent here Sunday after returning from West Indies. Pakistan won the five-match series 3-2.

Afridi said he felt tired after a long ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and wanted to rest but on insistence by his fans and former players he made up his mind to tour West Indies.

He showed his disappointment on failing to perform with bat and ball but said he will try to give his best in the upcoming series.

Talking about his differences with coach Waqar Younis, skipper Afridi said that everyone should mind their own business and shouldn’t poke their noses in other’s matters.

He admitted having some issues with Waqar Younis and said that he would soon call on Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt and then talk to media after that meeting.

Boom Boom Afridi said that the team management has some issues but negotiation is the only way out and he would take this matters in the knowledge of the PCB chief before sharing it with the media.

Afridi wished good luck to Pakistan cricket team ahead of the Test series against West Indies and said that Pakistan under Misbah-ul-Haq is favorites to win the series as the captain is also in a good batting form while inclusion of Umar Gul will give bowling attack the depth it lacked in the ODI series.

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Chanderpaul Invited For Practice Match

Chanderpaul  has been named in a group of 15 players who will play a two-day practice game at the Demerara Cricket Ground in Georgetown on May 8 and 9, ahead of West Indies' Test series against Pakistan.

Chanderpaul has been involved in a war of words with the WICB and the team management over the past week, but has still been invited to play the game. He is likely to make the squad for the first Test at Providence from May 16.

Chanderpaul's involvement in this practice game, though, means he will not be able to play the match between Guyana and the Pakistanis, which will take place on the same dates at Bourda. Having been dropped for the one-day series, Chanderpaul had said in an interview with local radio station Line and Length that he was keen to play against Pakistan before the Test series in order to have a look at their bowling.

Also among the fifteen players called up for the practice game are fast bowler Fidel Edwards and uncapped 18-year-old batsman Kraigg Brathwaite. Edwards has not played for West Indies since 2009, when he suffered a long-term injury. Brathwaite has had an impressive few months of first-class cricket, which was followed by his unbeaten 168 for West Indies Under-19s against Australia U-19s last month.

Fifteen players: Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Brendan Nash, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith

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Chanderpaul Slams West Indies Management

Chanderpaul  has launched a wide-ranging attack on the West Indies management, claiming it interfered with his batting during matches and subjected him to unreasonable questioning. He also compared the present regime unfavourably to those of previous coaches John Dyson and Bennett King, under whom Chanderpaul felt this same West Indies squad had far better results. 

Relations between Chanderpaul and the West Indies management have been strained since he was dropped from the ODI squad for the series against Pakistan, which the visitors won 3-2 (he is in line for a Test recall). 

Chanderpaul had demanded an explanation from WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire, who had made general comments about the attitude of West Indian players over the past 15 years, following wholesale changes to the squad.

When asked whether he was happy with his form over the past year before he was dropped, Chanderpaul - speaking to local radio station Line and Length - said he could have done better had he not been hampered by batting at different positions and dealing with external pressure during his innings. 

"I think, given the opportunity, I might have got bigger scores. Every time I settled in and started to get runs, messages would come telling what to do and what not to do, how to bat and how not to bat," Chanderpaul said. "I've been doing it for 17 years. When John Dyson was coach he never said anything to me. When Bennett King was coach he said, 'You go and do your job, we don't have to tell you what to do.' I had no problem then.

"Now we have people here, who are telling me how to bat. And when the game is over, I have to answer questions. I have to answer those questions and when I do, and it's not suitable, then I have to agree with whatever answers they want before the meeting is over. 

"Been called into meetings everyday, or every other day, spending hours answering questions. You never leave a meeting until they get whatever answer they want. That is what I've been going through. When you batting there are messages coming to you telling you how to bat, it happens until you get out, you know."

Chanderpaul had objected to Hilaire's comment that the management needed to put a new system in place because no individual was bigger than the team and no one was a "superstar". When asked if he knew any player who fitted that description, Chanderpaul said: "None of us did that. We've been doing what we've been told to do. The CEO and the executive members of the board made a decision to get rid of the senior players. They will have passed on that information to the chairman of selectors and the coach and let them pressure us in every way they can, which they did. 

"I see Christopher Gayle in the gym working, Sarwan doing extra work. All of us doing extra work and yet we've been cast aside just like that." 

A criticism of the present West Indies team has been its poor results against top sides - the victory against Pakistan in the fourth ODI was their first against a Full Member other than Bangladesh since June 2009. Chanderpaul, however, said the team had been "doing pretty OK." 

"I've been hearing a lot of things recently, about how this team hasn't been doing anything, haven't been winning against a top team. The same team, the same team, when John Dyson was coach, we were winning against England, winning against Sri Lanka, winning against South Africa, winning against top teams around the world." 

Chanderpaul also reiterated that he was asked to retire but refused, which had left the management unhappy. "They called me into a meeting and asked me to retire. I said I'm not retiring and when I left the meeting they were all pretty upset about it. You telling me I haven't done anything the last 12 months and I've been ranked among the top ten batsmen around the world. Just because I have been batting all over the place, I haven't had an opportunity to do anything much …"

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Windies Take Pride In Ten Wicket Thumping

Dead-rubber syndrome struck with a vengeance in the fifth and final ODI at Providence, as Pakistan succumbed to a crushing ten-wicket victory at the hands of Lendl Simmons and Kirk Edwards, who built on a disciplined bowling effort on a slow and low surface to chase down a moderate target of 140 with more than 26 overs remaining. Simmons was once again the star of the batting display, as he followed up his vital half-century in Barbados with an unbeaten 77 from 73 balls, while Edwards played the supporting role to perfection with 40 not out from 71. 

The manner of West Indies' victory was every bit as emphatic as the margin, as they romped past a distracted Pakistan team to record their second crushing victory against Test opposition in the space of two months, having routed Bangladesh with more than 37 overs to spare during the recent World Cup. Soon after that performance, however, West Indies themselves were crushed by 10 wickets by Pakistan in their Dhaka quarter-final, and so, having already lost the series with two games to spare, there was only a limited amount of succour to be had. Still, a win is a win, and for a young and remodelled outfit, it could prove vital for forging confidence in the weeks and months to come. 

For Pakistan, only Mohammad Hafeez produced a performance of any note. He continued his impressive run of form with an 83-ball 55, but the rest of the line-up succumbed meekly to a combination of seam and wrist-spin, as they were bundled out for 139 in 41.2 overs. Ravi Rampaul once again returned the outstanding analysis of 4 for 45, but it was the medium-pace of Darren Sammy, with 3 for 30 in ten overs, that carved open the top-order and laid the foundations for the win. 

Hafeez, who made an excellent 121 from 138 balls in Pakistan's one-run D/L defeat in Barbados earlier in the week, took advantage of the chance to bat first by easing along to his 12th ODI half-century, and his fourth in the last six weeks. Having launched the innings with a first-ball pull for four off Rampaul, Hafeez added five more boundaries in reaching his half-century from 66 balls, but his was a lone hand as his colleagues came and went. 

First to fall was Taufeeq Umar, back in the side after sitting out the fourth ODI. He made a laboured 3 from 12 balls before snicking a length ball from Rampaul through to Carlton Baugh behind the stumps. 

Ahmed Shehzad proved to be even less fluent, as he ground along to 9 from 33 balls, including a solitary glanced boundary off the legspinner Anthony Martin, who took the new ball in his second ODI appearance. Sammy, however, double-bluffed him by calling the keeper up to the stumps and immediately sending down a bouncer. Shehzad took a wild swing, but under-edged the shot onto his stumps. 

At 48 for 2 it was already proving to be a one-man show, and Pakistan's scorecard got even more lop-sided when Usman Salahuddin was nailed lbw on the sweep by Bishoo for 8, albeit to a shocker of a decision as the ball pitched way outside leg. One over later, Misbah-ul-Haq failed for the second match in succession, as Sammy tailed a wicked inswinger into his back pad, and this time there was little doubt about the lbw. 

Umar Akmal, restored to the team after a break in Barbados, reinvigorated the scoring with a towering swipe for six over long-off, but when Hafeez under-edged a cut onto his own stumps to hand Sammy his third wicket, the innings was in freefall at 93 for 5. Umar added one more boundary in a 27-ball 24 before falling in a similar fashion, dragging on to Rampaul as he attempted a glide to third man. 

Shahid Afridi has found some tame ways to get out in recent times, but he could do nothing about a brutal lifter that climbed from nowhere and flew through to Baugh, and three balls later Rampaul had his fourth as Wahab Riaz prodded loosely to slip. The wicketkeeper Mohammad Salman provided some resistance with an unbeaten 19 from 30 balls, including a fine cover drive as Rampaul over-pitched, but a brace of Dwayne Bravo lbws wrapped up the innings with more than eight overs to spare. 

West Indies' run-chase was over in a flash. They eased along to 34 for 0 in six overs before the mid-match interval, and though each man survived a tough chance behind the wicket - Edwards on 6 and Simmons on 31 - the only real opportunity came when Edwards was sent back for a sharp single, only for an alert Mohammad Salman to whip off the bails having noticed that his bat was over the crease but still in the air. The third umpire decided that there was too much doubt to give the decision, and that was effectively that. 

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Pakistan Vs West Indies Men In Green chase 400th ODI Win Today

Pakistan and West Indies are taking on each other in the fifth and final One Day International at Guyana here Thursday with the visiting Men in Green already securing the series by winning first three matches.

The only temptation for Shahid Afridi and his men is the 400^th ODI victory for Pakistan which they will achieve if they win the final match to be played at Providence Stadium of Guyana.

Pakistan, leading the series 3-1, have the opportunity to join Australia today as they will become only the second country to have more than 400 ODI wins after Australia in case of victory in the fifth One Day International.

Guyana National Stadium is already sold out and West Indian fans are all set to back their team for a victory which is needed to restore some pride after losing the series in the first three matches.

 

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Chanderpaul Questions Hilaire's Comments

Former West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul has demanded an explanation from WICB chief Ernest Hilaire regarding the comments he made regarding the lack of discipline and application in the team, leading up to its massive post World Cup overhaul. In a strongly-worded letter addressed to Hilaire, a copy of which is with ESPNcricinfo, Chanderpaul questioned whether the comments were directed at him.

Chanderpaul, along with senior players Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan were axed from the side for the ongoing series against Pakistan. Hilaire's interview with Line and Length network, a copy of which was later released by the WICB, touched upon a number of the problems ailing West Indies cricket over the past 15 years.

Chanderpaul's concerns were over the following excerpt from the interview: "If you look at West Indies cricket since the mid-90s, a lot of the systems we had in place broke down. There's no discipline, there's no application. We've been doing that for 15 years and we've been losing.

 We need to put a new system in place. No one man is bigger than the team, no one man is such a superstar he can decide if he is training today, if he's going to have treatment tomorrow, if he's going to attend a team meeting. It cannot work that way."

In response, Chanderpaul wrote: "I am particularly concerned about the following statements:

 1. There's no discipline, there's no application.

 2. No one man is bigger than the team, no one man is such a superstar he can decide if he is training today, if he's going to have treatment tomorrow, if he's going to attend a team meeting.

"I am of the opinion that anyone reading these comments in the specific context will conclude that:

 I, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, am an indisciplined individual and during my tenure as a West Indies player over the past fifteen years have lacked discipline and contributed to the West Indies team losing.

 I, Shivnarine Chanderpaul have not applied myself or demonstrated any real application to my role as a member of the West Indies team over the past 15 years and by so doing have contributed to the West Indies team losing.

 I, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, consider myself to be bigger than the team.

 I, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, while a member of the West Indies team during the past fifteen years, have decided when I was training or not training.

 I, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, while a member of the West Indies team during the past fifteen years, have decided when I was going to attend or not attend team meetings.

 (Based on the accusations above) I, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, while a member of the West Indies team during the past fifteen years, have disregarded the coaches and managerial staff or undermined team discipline by my actions and attitude."

Chanderpaul also questioned whether the statements were reflective of Hilaire's personal opinion, or were made in his capacity as WICB chief. "If they were made by you, I note that you constantly use the word 'we' in the excerpt above," Chanderpaul wrote.

"I would like to know if this is a 'royal we' or, in other words, are you speaking for yourself, albeit as CEO of the West Indies Cricket Board or are you speaking for and on behalf of the West Indies Cricket Board itself? This is important to me since I believe I have served the WICB and West Indies Cricket faithfully and well during my career and it would be difficult for me to accept that the members of the board of directors of West Indies cricket have sanctioned those remarks. On what basis have you made those statements and with what purpose?"

Asking Hilaire to reply urgently, Chanderpaul said he was worried the comments would damage his reputation. "I am convinced that those persons who do not know the sacrifices I have made on behalf of West Indies Cricket and my dedication to the cause of West Indies Cricket would believe, based on what you have said in your interview, that I lack discipline and application and have not demonstrated the sense of responsibility which I know that I have shown throughout my career.

While I would refer you to my unblemished reputation for professionalism and to all the other CEOs, coaches and managers with whom I have worked, I believe that you have crossed the line by making these public accusations that, while they may include others, are also directed at me and if unchallenged and corrected may destroy my career."

Chanderpaul told Hilaire in his letter that if he did not receive an adequate explanation he would take whatever action necessary to clear his name.

"While it would help if the WICB as an organisation repudiates your comments in this regards, it would still not be sufficient to erase the tremendous damage already done. I await your urgent response and reserve all of my rights in this matter."

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Misbah Stays Calm To Secure Series Victory

Pakistan overcame a blistering spell from Ravi Rampaul and some late panic against the impressive Devendra Bishoo to secure the series against West Indies with a three-wicket victory in Barbados. The hosts had collapsed feebly once again, but Pakistan were jolted by Rampaul's four strikes and needed the calm head of Misbah-ul-Haq, who remained cool as Bishoo threatened to turn the game again.

It became a more compelling contest than looked likely during another insipid batting display from West Indies. Then Pakistan again appeared to be cruising at 127 for 4 after a composed stand between Misbah and Hammad Azam. However, Bishoo benefited from some poor umpiring and hot-headed strokes to leave them needing 24 when Wahab Riaz joined Misbah, but there were eventually 29 balls to spare as Wahab launched two sixes in four deliveries to hurry a conclusion.

Misbah was roundly criticised for Pakistan's World Cup semi-final exit against India when his poorly-paced innings proved costly, but in this series he has provided vital ballast in an inexperienced order. Without him here, Pakistan would have lost. This was his third unbeaten score to secure a run chase - although he could have been stumped on 20 if part-time keeper Lendl Simmons had gloved the ball - and showed a technique, and composure, that was lacking among some of his team-mates.

Despite the early clatter of wickets the required rate was never an issue for Pakistan, which allowed Misbah to bed in and weather the tough passages while Rampaul was in action. This tour started on the slow, low pitch in St Lucia, where the ball barely got above knee height, but this Kensington Oval surface had far more pace and carry for the quick bowlers who were willing to bend their backs.

Ahmed Shehzad, fresh from his hundred three days ago, tried to pull Rampaul's first delivery and top-edged to a back-tracking Simmons and next delivery Asad Shafiq edged to second slip; suddenly the West Indian fans started to find their voice. Mohammad Hafeez was the next to fall to another top-edged pull, which was well taken by Bishoo, running towards deep square-leg, to leave the visitors 12 for 3.

Misbah's natural game is always to cut out risk and bat time; for Umar Akmal it is the opposite and he took the aggressive route. He struck five boundaries in a 27-ball stay before being undone by a wonderful delivery that bounced and shaved the glove as he tried to sway out of the line.

presence. Azam, in his first ODI innings, showed composure and pulled a free hit from Andre Russell for six. He also did well to leave the crease so swiftly after Asoka de Silva failed to spot a huge inside edge when he gave an lbw decision in Bishoo's favour - there is no DRS in this series.

Shahid Afridi's batting has disintegrated and, after two boundaries, it was predictable when he attempted a slog over midwicket. Mohammad Salman then showed his inexperience by not running hard when he thought the ball would reach the boundary and was bowled by a flipper that he shouldn't have been facing. Fortunately for Salman it didn't cost the match.

But while West Indies showed spirit in the field their innings followed a depressingly familiar pattern as they lost 8 for 53 after Simmons and Darren Bravo had formed a solid platform with an 86-run stand. Once they were separated, the innings almost came to a stand-still and soon fell in a heap amid a mixture of prods, pokes and hopeless slogs.

Marlon Samuels, who is struggling to adjust back to international cricket, was again culpable in the loss of momentum as he took 35 balls over his 18, while Kirk Edwards laboured until being run out by a direct hit from backward point. Aside from Simmons, and to a lesser extent Darren Bravo, there is precious little confidence in West Indies' line up and it showed as the innings faded away with Wahab taking two in three balls.

Devon Smith's horror trot against Hafeez's offspin had continued when he was trapped lbw first ball, the third time in a row he had fallen in such fashion. After reaching fifty from 61 balls Simmons had time to double his score, but drove a fraction too early and offered a low chance to Saeed Ajmal who took it well in his follow through.

The onus was on Darren Bravo not to follow a similar path of giving away a useful innings, however, having struggled to increase the tempo, he then played across a full ball from Hafeez as the stall kicked in. Any hopes of pushing past 200 vanished in the space of three balls from Wahab as he had both Darren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo caught at long on. A little bit of sensible batting and this could have been West Indies' match.

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Fire In Babylon Revenge Of The West Indies

August 1976. England is in the grip of the longest and fiercest heatwave on record. The cricket field at the Kennington Oval is so parched that you might imagine yourself to be in Trinidad or Antigua, not London. The thousands of black faces around the boundary rope only add to the impression of a Caribbean outpost in SE11.

Michael Holding has the ball. Loose-limbed and doe-eyed, with a languid running style that has earned him the nickname 'Whispering Death’, he is the avenging angel of the West Indies’ fearsome cricket team. He stands in front of the sightscreen, almost pawing the ground at the end of his 44-pace run-up. The air buzzes with anticipation as he fixes his gaze on Tony Greig, the South African émigré who has played his way to the England captaincy. Everyone in the stands knows there is more at stake here than the next run or wicket. This is personal.

Holding begins his silky approach to the crease, his shirt billowing and his head swaying gently from side to side. 'When you watch him,’ the cricket photographer Clyde Cumberbatch said, 'what you are looking at is an African individual with African rhythm.’

That rhythm is matched by the pulse building in the crowd, as thousands of West Indian supporters beat their drums, blow their horns or simply bang a couple of tin cans together.

Holding leaps. The ball whips from his hand in a blur. Greig tries to jam his bat down in time but he is hopelessly late. The stumps detonate, and even though the match is not yet over, there are suddenly hundreds of people on the field. 'Did you see that one, Tony?’ they jeer. 'Who’s grovelling now?’

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Pakistan's Batsmen Seal The Job Started By Spinners

Pakistan strolled to victory in the first one-day international against West Indies at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq all contributing half-centuries as West Indies' score of 221 for 6 was overhauled with more than eight overs to spare.

It appeared West Indies had a fighting chance of continuing the success of the opening Twenty20 of the tour after Darren Bravo's 67 helped them to a workable total and legspinner Devendra Bishoo struck twice in quick succession to reduce Pakistan to 88 for 2. Bishoo had precious little support from the rest of the bowling attack, however, and Misbah and Shafiq put together an unbroken partnership of 134 for the third wicket to steer Pakistan home.

This match had been billed as a chance for West Indies to get revenge for their World Cup humiliation by Pakistan, but in the end it was more like a replay. Even the Man of the Match, Hafeez, was the same and West Indies' greatest errors stemmed from their misreading of the pitch for today's game - an unforgivable error as they should have known what to expect after the Twenty20, which was also played at Gros Islet.

It had been thought the pitch would be slow, and it was, but it also offered turn and bounce to the spinners. Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Hafeez bowled a combined 30 overs for just 100 runs, picking up two wickets, but Bishoo was the only slow bowler in an unbalanced seam-heavy attack as Devon Smith bowled two ineffectual overs of offspin and Marlon Samuel's respectable offerings weren't called upon.

West Indies were left chasing the game almost from the start as, reprising his World Cup role, Hafeez was brought on early and soon dealt with Smith while Ajmal toyed with Lendl Simmons before sending down a doosra that the batsman feathered through to the keeper to give a sluggish start an even more sombre tone.

Samuels maintained his trademark ice cool composure and exhibited his best poker face but fell to some indecisive running and it was left to Darren Bravo and Kirk Edwards to get an increasingly rudderless innings back on track. They gritted out a fourth-wicket partnership worth 59, replete with snappy singles and dinks into the outfield, that carried West Indies to 135 before Edwards tried to break the shackles with a heave into the deep that could only get as far as Junaid Khan at deep midwicket.

That brought Darren's half-brother Dwayne to the crease, and it was in his company that he reached a boundary-free half-century from 97 balls. The brothers Bravo continued to push the ones and twos wherever possible, and when the Batting Powerplay was called for at the start of the 43rd over Darren took it as his cue to take the attack to Pakistan's seamers.

With much of the boundary unprotected, Dwayne Bravo attempted to follow Darren's lead but his charge came to a premature end when he chipped a Riaz full toss towards mid-off, where Afridi skipped to his right and bent low to hold the catch inches from the turf.

Sammy's walk to the crease was accompanied by a warm reception from a middling crowd - St Lucia being his home island - but they were soon hushed into silence by another piece of inept running. Bravo dug a free hit towards deep mid-off and Sammy cajoled him into a second run that was never there, the result being that the set batsman was run out for 67 just as he began to accelerate and West Indies faced the final five overs of the innings with two brand new batsmen at the crease.

While Ajmal continued to weave mysteries around the batsmen until the very end, Sammy took the dismissal in his stride and responded with a flurry of boundaries - including a memorably monstrous six that landed on the roof of the stands on the western side of the ground - and together with an energetic Carlton Baugh boosted West Indies' total at the death.

It was soon made to look nowhere near enough, however, as Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad put on an untroubled 68 for the first wicket at close to a-run-a-ball before Bishoo's intervention. Hafeez had set about Pakistan's chase with alacrity from the start, displacing a silken touch on both sides of the wicket as he raced to 20 from just 10 balls without a slog in sight and taking full advantage as a swirling top-edge evaded Kemar Roach, running in from long leg.

After a slow start his opening partner, Shehzad, started to catch up with three classy boundaries from one Roach over and with Pakistan soon racing along at better than a-run-a-ball West Indies began to wilt visibly in the field.

Bishoo's introduction quickly changed that, however, as he gave away just one run from his first nine deliveries and then lured Shehzad forward with a looping, dipping legbreak that fizzed past the outside edge for wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh to complete a smart stumping with the batsman's back foot in the air. Hafeez went to his fifty with a slog sweep over deep backward square off Bishoo, but was then undone by what appeared to be a wrong 'un as, cramped for room, he clipped straight to a diving short midwicket.

The wickets reduced Pakistan to 88 for 2 and brought West Indies back into the game, but with the seam attack unable to contain the batsmen and spin support for Bishoo unavailable Misbah and Shafiq soon settled. Both played with increasingly imperious confidence, Misbah raising a 63-ball fifty in the 35th over and Shafiq following suit four overs later. West Indies' demise thereafter was swift, and they will have to improve in all areas if they are to square the series in the second match at the same ground on Monday.

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Pakistan Vs West Indies, Once Their Battle Was Like APalatable Dish

Once, their battle was a treat for the spectators all over the world, once they ruled the world of cricket. Their nail-biting clashes were dominated the more than a decade. Their players charmed crowd all over the world. They were the true champions of the game of cricket in a decade which expanded over 15 or more years. Pakistan vs West Indies series, be it a Test match or an ODI kept the cricket lovers’ heart run fast, it kept them guessing all the time.

In course of time both the teams had lost their glamour and charisma to script epics. But since their battle started both these teams have gifted dramas. The standards for keen, exciting cricket have been maintained in every meeting since, were set the first time Pakistan came to the West Indies for the inaugural series in 1958. A contest closer than the 3-1 advantage to the West Indies suggested was dominated by two phenomenal batting performances that remained indelible in the record books for a time.

In the first Test at Kingston Oval Pakistan was routed for 106 in their first innings and followed on 473 behind, a seemingly hopeless cause. The legendary Hanif Mohamamd dug in defiantly, holding through for the most of the last three days of the six-day Test match. He shared four successive century partnerships and when he was finally out for 337 on the last day, he had been in 16 hours, ten minutes. No one before or since, has batted longer in any first-class match. In the age of T20s such marathon batting is impossible.

A few weeks later Hanif’s feat was surpassed by Garry Sobers at Sabina Park in the third Test. Taking on the full advantage of a Pakistani attack reduced by injuries, Sobers on an ideal batting paradise just sliced the Pakistani bowlers and hammered the then world record 365 not out. In spite of the batting domination the West Indian crowd were thrilled by the pace and guile of the Jamaican long-armed Roy Gilchrist and the art of Fazal Mahmood.

 Tackling Gilchrist’s hostile pace by the gritty little Hanif with much guts earned Hanif a palce of respect in the hearts of the West Indian crowd, while the beautiful cutters of Fazal left the local crowd praising the immense talent of Fazal.
Inexplicably, it was another nine years before Pakistan returned to the Caribbean, their meeting in the interim confined to two short series in Pakistan tacked on to the end of full tours of India in 1958-59 and 1964-65. None of the players from the inaugural rubber survived by 1977 but their successors were on equal star billing.

“Big Cat” Clive Lloyd led his West Indies team just developing into the most consistently successful of all time. Fredericks, Greenidge, Richards, Kallicharran, Murray, Roberts, Croft and Holdings were his main men. Mushtaq Mohammad captained an exceptionally talented Pakistan side comprising of Majid, Zaheer, Sadiq, Asif, Wasim Raja, Bari, Imran, Sarfraz , Iqbal Qasim and Sikander Bakht.

From the word go both the teams were aggressive and bold, typified by the stylish hard-hitting left-handed genius Wasim Raja who topped Pakistan’s averages and counted 14 sixes among his 517 runs against that horrifying West Indies pace. They could not be separated over the first four Tests.
The West Indies clung on for a draw in the first Test at Jamaica with their last pair when a Pakistan victory was inevitable. They then won the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval by virtue of a volatile display of fats bowling from Colin Croft who bagged 8-29 and had the better of a high scoring draw at Bourda where Irving Shillingford in only in his second Test.

Inspired by Mushtaq Mohmamd’s brilliant all-round performance, Pakistan squared the series at Queen’s Park second time around to set up the Sabina Park Showdown. On a fast bouncy track, the West Indian venomous fast bowling, legspin of Hollford and Greenidge’s butchery murdered Pakistan. West Indies won the Test series by 2-1.

The next meeting between the two teams was in 1980 in Pakistan. Though Pakistan created flat tracks to negate the West Indies pace battery but it couldn’t avoid a series defeat.

 Joel Garner and Sylvester Clarke were astonishing while Imran Khan’s bat blossomed to script his first Test hundred.
In 1986 and 1990, in Pakistan the West Indies demonstrated their resilience by shaking off heavy defeats in the first match to immediately win the second and be denied only by the lack of time.

In the first Test at Faisalabad in 1986, Pakistan were skittled out for 159 in their first innings by the pace of AH Gray. The West Indies made 248 in their first innings with Wasim Akram taking 6-91. Pakistan in their second scored 328 courtesy of some gutsy batting by Salim Yousuf and Wasim Akram helping Pakistan to set the West Indies a target of 240.

 But Abdul Qadir’s bomb blasting legspin booked the West Indies for 53! The West Indies blasted Pakistan at Lahore but failed to win the Karachi Test due to the courageous batting performance by Imran Khan and Tauseef Ahmed. Chasing a target of 213 runs Pakistan were reduced to 95-7. But Imran and Tauseef hung at the crease to ensure a 1-1 draw.

It was in this Test series of 1986 at Faisalabad; Imran Khan introduced neutral umpires to cricket by inviting umpires from India. The rest of the world still had their men on both ends.

The West Indies succumbed to a eight wickets defeat against Pakistan at Lahore in 1990 destroyed by the pace of young Waqar Younis and the batting of Salim Malik. But the West Indies blasted Pakistan in the second Test and had the home team back to the wall with six wickets down. Again the third Test ended in a tensed draw.

In the West in 1988, was scripted one of the greatest battles in the history of Test cricket. A clean sweep in the ODI series had given the West Indies a false sense of security. In the first Test the West Indies were without Malcolm Marshall and Viv Richards. Gratefully seized upon by the Lion Imran Khan, his high class fast bowling earned him 11 wickets in the match and Javed Miandad’s 114 secured Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the series.

Ricahrds and Marshall were back for the final two Tests and the fight for supremacy was fierce.

Imran Khan grabbed nine more wickets while Marshall grabbed seven and Richards and Dujon hit centuries in the second Test. Pakistan were set a target of 371 to win the second Test and they were reduced to 5-169 by the West Indian pace battery. But the gritty Javed Miandad hit another hundred and lower order courage saved the Test match for Pakistan.

It set up a grand finale for the Kensington Oval, the West Indian fortress where they had not been defeated since 1935. It was hard to separate which was the best side. Pakistan gave the West Indies a target of 266 runs to win and had the eight of the Caribbean wickets for 207! A Pakistan victory was inevitable.

The tensions were acute, heightened by the frequent Pakistani appeals and angry reactions when umpire David Archer refused one in particular, for a catch at short-leg off Dujon. Heckled for his show of pentulance, Abdul Qadir, the aggrieved bowler, stepped across the boundary to confront a spectator, rattled, Pakistan let the match slip, as Dujon and Benjamin hang on to a cliffhanger.

Imran Khan was crest-fallen. In the five rubbers in which he had been involved against the West Indies, three as captain covering 18 Test matches, Pakistan had been repeatedly frustrated. This time as he wrote later, he was convinced by the fact that he and his men were denied by the umpiring errors.

In 1993, Pakistan toured to West Indies again. The rubber was still not decided. Pakistan led by Wasim Akram came back strongly in the ODI series from a 2-0 down. They could have won the last ODI had the crowd not interfered. But before the Test series Pakistan cricket was hit by drug scandals. And it simply killed the charm of the Test series. Pakistanis were down mentally.

And on which the West Indian capitalized. Ambrose and Bishop devastated while Desmond Haynes and Brian Lara blasted with the bat. The West Indies easily took a 2-0 lead but Inzamam’s magnificent 125 in the third Test denied the Caribbean a 3-0 clean sweep.

But the West Indian kingdom had fallen and a low confident West Indian side was to tour to Pakistan in 1997 and easily the Pakistan start studded side thrashed them by 3-0. Pakistan toured to West In 2000 and the first two Tests were undecided. Inzamam with the bat while Wasim Akram with the ball were simply breath taking. But the decider at Antigua was almost won bu Pakistan as the local umpire denied a short-leg catch and Adams hang on till the end to give the West Indies a one wicket win.

Pakstan toured again in 2005 and managed a 3-0 win the ODIs but couldn’t win the Test series again as they hung on to a 1-1 draw by winning the last Test. In 2006 Pakistan won both the Test and the ODI series against the West Indies at home. Mohamamd Yousuf in this series became the player to score most Test runs in a calendar year to break Viv Richards’ 30 year old record while Lara charmed the Multan crowd with a 216.

Pakistan’s tour to the West Indies so far had been frustrating and was mostly marred by controversies. They are yet to win a Test series in the Caribbean. Pakistanis again are touring the West Indies this year after six long years. This time the Pakistan team is much stronger than the West Indies. Perhaps this is the time that Lala and his men give their nation and their millions of fans a sweet victory in the Test series.

The clash between these two teams is no longer eagerly waited, no longer charm crowds. But still both these team are unpredictable and are capable of creating enough drama and excitement.

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