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WI vs PAK Rain Cuts Day 1 Test Opening: On the first day of the first Test match between West Indies and Pakistan being played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the entire game could not be played due to rain and bad light. By the end of the day’s play, West Indies had scored 194 runs for 3 wickets in the first innings. Kavem Hodge returned not out after scoring 83 runs and Shai Hope 39 runs. Only 67 overs could be played on the first day of the match. Stumps were declared ahead of schedule due to bad light.

Despite the moisture in the pitch, Hodge managed the innings

Kaveem Hodge batted in all three sessions. Only 14.1 overs could be played in the first session, in which 23 runs were scored. Hodge came out to bat in the ninth over, when Mohammad Abbas gave the first blow to West Indies by bowling Brandon King (12). In the first session, Abbas took one wicket for 8 runs in 7 overs. Despite rain making the pitch damp after lunch, Hodge continued to bat brilliantly. In the second session, West Indies added 104 runs in 28.5 overs and lost two wickets.

In the final session, Hodge and Shai Hope made an unbeaten 88-run partnership for the fourth wicket. During this period, Hodge even escaped being out LBW once. Mohammad Abbas’s incoming ball hit his pads and the on-field umpire gave him out, but the decision was overturned after the TV umpire found in the replays that the ball was going over the stumps. Hodge completed the fourth half-century of his Test career with the help of eight fours in 86 balls.

Performance of Pakistan bowlers

Mohammad Abbas was the most successful bowler for Pakistan. He took two wickets for 44 runs in 19 overs. Left-arm spinner Usman Ali, who made his Test debut at the age of 33, also troubled the batsmen on many occasions by achieving excellent turn. Aamer Jamal has returned to the Test team after 18 months. He dismissed Tangerine Chanderpaul (21). Amir Jangu (21) was declared LBW by Abbas.

batsmen had to struggle

West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and decided to bat first. However, the batsmen were seen struggling a lot in the initial game and runs were scored at a very slow pace. The team’s score was only 13 runs in the ninth over, when the first wicket fell.

Captaincy change in Pakistan

Babar Azam has returned as captain in this match. Shan Masood, who was the captain before him, was removed from the captaincy. Under the captaincy of Masood, Pakistan had registered only four wins in 16 Tests and lost 12 matches. Pakistan won its last overseas Test match in 2023 against Sri Lanka under the captaincy of Babar Azam.

change in pakistan team

Pakistan suffered a big setback before the match. Opener Abdullah Fazal suffered a lower back injury on Thursday, due to which he was ruled out of this series and the subsequent three-Test series of the England tour. In his place, Imam-ul-Haq has returned, who did not play in the last Test series against Bangladesh. He will open the innings with Azan Awais.

Meanwhile, due to the unavailability of Alzarri Joseph, West Indies have included three fast bowlers Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales in the team. Jomel Warrican is the only specialist spinner in the team.

Tribute to Garfield Sobers

Before the start of the match, players and match officials of West Indies and Pakistan paid tribute to the great all-rounder Garfield Sobers. He died this month at the age of 89.

All the players and officials kept a minute’s silence and entered the field wearing black bands. This match is being played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, which has become the 13th Test venue in the Caribbean region.