Pakistan vs West Indies 1st T20I Match Prediction – Who will win today’s match between PAK vs WI?

Pakistan and West Indies are set to lock horns in the first of the three T20Is on Monday, December 13 at the National Stadium in Karachi. The hosts will go into the game on the back of a 3-0 win against Bangladesh. Prior to that, they also qualified for the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Oman and UAE.

The Caribbean team, in the meantime, have been jolted with a blow after Sheldon Cottrell, Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase tested positive for COVID-19. The trio will now undergo self-isolation. Moreover, numbers also don’t favour the West Indies as they have won three out of 18 T20Is on Pakistan soil.

Match Details:

Match – Pakistan vs West Indies, 1st T20I

Venue – National Stadium, Karachi

Time – 6:30 PM IST

Where to watch live – Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV

Pitch Report 

The pitch in Karachi has mostly been a sporting one thus far in the limited number of T20Is played at the venue. However, the track has favoured the team batting first and going by records, chasing can be tricky.

Average score – 165 in 4 T20Is at the National Stadium

Record of chasing teams – Win- 1, Loss -3, N/R- 0

Probable Playing XIs

Pakistan

Predicted XI: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Ifthikar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr/Usman Qadir, Haris Rauf

West Indies

Predicted XI: Shai Hope, Brandon King, Darren Bravo, Nicholas Pooran (c and wk), Rovman Powell, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Dominic Drakes/Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas

BAN vs PAK Head-to-Head

Matches- 18, Pakistan– 12, West Indies– 3, N/R- 3, Tied- 0

Probable top performers

Babar Azam- Pakistan

Babar Azam has been a fulcrum of the Pakistan batting for quite a few years. He was in stupendous form in the T20 World Cup 2021 being among the leading run-scorers. But he looked a tad off colour on the tour of Bangladesh. But in home conditions, he is expected to make hay and torment the West Indies bowlers.

Shaheen Shah Afridi- Pakistan

Shaheen Shah Afridi has been stupendous for Pakistan over the last few years. In the T20 World Cup 2021, he rattled the Indian batting as well. He was brilliant in the tour of Bangladesh as well. If he finds his rhythm, West Indies batters would be in for a lot of trouble.

Match Prediction – Pakistan to win the match.

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.