West Indies squad arrives in Pakistan for white-ball tour

The Windies will play three Twenty20 and three one-day internationals -- all in the port city of Karachi -- starting Monday, their first visit since 2018.

Published : Dec 09, 2021 15:03 IST , Karachi

Nicholas Pooran will lead West Indies' T20 team in the absence of Kieron Pollard.
Nicholas Pooran will lead West Indies' T20 team in the absence of Kieron Pollard.
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Nicholas Pooran will lead West Indies' T20 team in the absence of Kieron Pollard.

The West Indies cricket team arrived in Pakistan on Thursday for a visit which local officials hope will scotch bitter memories of a New Zealand tour abandoned on security grounds.

The Windies will play three Twenty20 and three one-day internationals -- all in the port city of Karachi -- starting Monday, their first visit since 2018.

A Pakistan official said a 26-member party had flown to Karachi early Thursday before being escorted by heavy security to the team hotel.

The series comes three months after New Zealand quit its first tour to the country in 18 years following a security alert, shortly before the opening match.

That was followed by England's decision to withdraw visits by its men's and women's teams scheduled for October.

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Pakistan officials were furious with the cancellations, arguing security measures were lock-tight.

The cricket-mad nation endured a long spell without a visit from an international team following a terror attack on a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

Pakistan was forced to play its home international matches abroad -- mostly in the United Arab Emirates -- until 2015 when normal service tentatively resumed.

This West Indian squad is somewhat understrength, with regulars Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell and Lendl Simmons opting out for personal reasons.

Former skipper Jason Holder is being rested while Fabian Allen and Obed McCoy are out because of injuries.

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Last week captain Kieron Pollard also withdrew through a hamstring injury, leaving the Twenty20 leadership to Nicholas Pooran and ODIs to Shai Hope.

Four players -- Akeal Hosein, Sheldon Cottrell, Dominic Drakes and Odean Smith -- will join the team later on Thursday.

The three T20Is are on December 13, 14 and 16, while the ODIs will be on December 18, 20 and 22.

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