On a Saturday in Tarouba, Trinidad, two cricket sides who have both struggled to find footing in the long cycle of Test cricket meet for the first time in this contest. West Indies, under Roston Chase, chose to bat first, and the stakes feel shared, since neither team has yet built much momentum in the World Test Championship. It is the kind of early meeting where a season's shape can begin to show itself, and where a new venue also takes its first place in the long history of the game.
West Indies Bats First Against Pakistan in Tarouba Opener as Babar Azam Returns to Captaincy
Pakistan have not won an away Test since 2023
Mark
Both teams are bottom of the World Test Championship. Why does a two-match series between them matter?
Mimi
Each has just one win this cycle. West Indies got theirs against Sri Lanka, Pakistan against South Africa. Whoever wins here gets a lift off the bottom and some belief.
Luke
Worth noting the source only says they're bottom with one win each. It doesn't give the full table or what the series means for qualification.
Mark
Babar Azam is captain again. What's the backstory?
Mimi
Pakistan took the captaincy from Shan Masood, who lost 12 of 16 Tests after taking over from Babar in late 2023. Babar scored a century in the warm-up.
Luke
That's a practice game against a West Indies Select XI. It's encouraging, but it isn't Test-level evidence.
Mark
And the bowling and opening changes?
Mimi
Abdullah Fazal is out with a back injury, so Imam-ul-Haq opens with Azan Awais. Ali Usman debuts as the lone spinner, ahead of Sajid Khan.
Luke
Whether that choice is right is unknown. We don't know the pitch or the reasoning beyond what's reported.
Mimi
West Indies are without Alzarri Joseph too, so they lean on three quicks and Warrican for spin.
Luke
Pakistan's away drought, no win since 2023, is a fact. Whether it ends here is a different matter.
Le Pouls
- West Indies won the toss and sent Pakistan's bowlers out first, setting the tone for a match both bottom-placed sides cannot afford to lose.
- Pakistan's dressing room is in turmoil, with Babar Azam back as captain after Shan Masood's short and painful tenure.
- A key opener, Abdullah Fazal, is out of the series with a back injury, forcing Imam-ul-Haq back into the top order beside Azan Awais.
- Debutant slow left-armer Ali Usman is the lone specialist spinner, a bold gamble that could define Pakistan's attack.
- West Indies are missing Alzarri Joseph and go in with three fast bowlers, while the Brian Lara Cricket Academy hosts its first Test.
- Pakistan have not won away since 2023, and the answer to whether their reshuffled side can steady itself will carry into three Tests in England.
On a Saturday in Tarouba, Trinidad, two cricket sides who have both struggled to find footing in the long cycle of Test cricket meet for the first time in this contest. West Indies, under Roston Chase, chose to bat first, and the stakes feel shared, since neither team has yet built much momentum in the World Test Championship. It is the kind of early meeting where a season's shape can begin to show itself, and where a new venue also takes its first place in the long history of the game.
On Saturday at Tarouba in Trinidad, West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and chose to bat in the first of a two-match series against Pakistan. Both sides sit at the bottom of the World Test Championship table with a single win each, so the series matters a great deal to both.
West Indies arrive with a little more confidence, having beaten Sri Lanka 1-0 in their last series for their first win of this cycle. Pakistan have gone the other way, losing three Tests in a row after a promising start against South Africa.
The biggest change for Pakistan is at the top, where Babar Azam has returned as captain in place of Shan Masood. Masood lost 12 of his 16 Tests in charge and still plays in this match. Babar arrives with a century from a practice game, while Azan Awais and fast bowler Mohammad Ali also impressed. The history is less kind, though: Pakistan have not won an away Test since 2023.
Injury has forced further reshuffling. Abdullah Fazal is out for this series and the three Tests in England that follow, so Imam-ul-Haq returns to open. Debutant Ali Usman is the only specialist spinner, picked ahead of the more experienced Sajid Khan.
West Indies have their own gap, with Alzarri Joseph unavailable, leaving three fast bowlers and Jomel Warrican as the spinner. The Brian Lara Cricket Academy hosts its first Test, becoming the 13th Test ground in the Caribbean. The real question now is whether Pakistan's rebuilt attack can hold up before England.
On Saturday at Tarouba, Trinidad, West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and chose to bat first in the opening Test of a two-match series against Pakistan. The two sides sit at the bottom of the World Test Championship table, each with a single win in the current cycle, so the series carries weight for both.
West Indies arrive in better spirits. They beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in their last series, which gave them their first victory of this WTC cycle. Pakistan's run has gone the other way. They opened the cycle with a win over South Africa last year, then lost three Tests in succession.
The biggest change on the Pakistan side is at the top. Babar Azam is captain again, after Pakistan removed the job from Shan Masood. Masood had taken over from Babar in late 2023 and lost 12 of his 16 Tests in charge. Masood still plays in this match, in the line-up alongside Babar.
Babar prepared with a century against a West Indies Select XI in a practice game. Opening batter Azan Awais also made a hundred in that match, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali took five wickets. Ali is back in the Test side after almost two years away. The history is less encouraging: Pakistan have not won an away Test since beating Sri Lanka in 2023, when Babar was captain.
Pakistan have also had to rework their top order. Opener Abdullah Fazal is out of this series and the three Tests in England that follow, after injuring his lower back on Thursday. Imam-ul-Haq, who missed the last series against Bangladesh, returns to open alongside Awais. Pakistan also handed a debut to slow left-armer Ali Usman, who is the only specialist spinner in the XI. He was picked ahead of the more experienced Sajid Khan.
West Indies have their own gap to cover. Alzarri Joseph made himself unavailable for the series, so the hosts go in with three fast bowlers: Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales. Jomel Warrican is their specialist spinner.
The West Indies XI is Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Justin Greaves, Chase, Roach, Warrican, Shamar Joseph and Seales. Pakistan field Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Masood, Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Abbas.
The match is also a first for the venue. The Brian Lara Cricket Academy becomes the 13th Test ground in the Caribbean and is hosting its first Test. Beyond this series, the next question is how Pakistan's reshuffled attack, including debutant Ali Usman, holds up before the three Tests in England.
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