Summary Pakistan will take on West Indies in the first T20 International today at Kingstown.
KINGSTOWN (AFP): After beating the host 3-1 in the ODI series, Pakistan will face reigning World Twenty20 champions in the first match of the two-match T20 series today in Kingstown, St Vincent today (Saturday).
The first T20 International will start at 11:00pm (PST).
Brimming with confidence following a 3-1 triumph in the five-match One-Day International series which concluded Wednesday in neighbouring St Lucia, the visitors will nevertheless be wary of taking on a home side that has played unbeaten since lifting the World T20 title last October in Sri Lanka.
Curiously, there has been only one previous meeting between the two teams in this version, on Pakistan's last visit to the Caribbean in 2011 when the West Indies held on for a seven-run victory at the Beausejour Stadium.
The weekend fixtures therefore represent an opportunity to redress that deficiency on a stage where both teams are blessed with players who appear to revel in the sport's newest and most popular incarnation.
For all their struggles in ODI's in the past month, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard will be expected to return to their dominating, destructive best with the bat in the manner that has made them among the most sought-after players for the many T20 competitions now played around the world.
Pakistan, with Mohammad Hafeez at the helm, also have a stage to showcase their explosive, match-winning talents to any interested franchises while at the same time seeking to reinforce their country's impressive reputation in the 20-over-per-side variety.
