On January 17, 2025, Pakistan faced a tough challenge in the opening match of the two-match Test series against West Indies at Multan Cricket Stadium. After winning the toss, Pakistan chose to bat first, but things didn’t go as planned. The West Indies bowlers, especially Jayden Seales, dominated the early stages of the game, putting Pakistan on the back foot.
From the start, Pakistan’s top order struggled against the West Indies’ bowling attack. Seales, with his aggressive pace and skillful deliveries, made early breakthroughs, sending three key Pakistan batters back to the pavilion. Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain, was dismissed cheaply for just 8 runs. Alongside him, Shan Masood (11) and Muhammad Huraira (6) were also out quickly, leaving Pakistan in a difficult position at 46/4 by the 13.3-over mark.
With Pakistan’s situation looking grim, it was up to vice-captain Saud Shakeel and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan to rebuild the innings. Both players showed great resilience and determination as they fought back against the West Indies’ attack. They formed a solid partnership that steadied the ship for Pakistan, taking the score from 46/4 to 143/4 by the end of the day’s play.
The West Indies bowlers, particularly Seales (3/21) and Gudakesh Motie (1/45), were the main contributors to Pakistan’s early collapse. Their impressive spells put Pakistan under pressure, but Shakeel and Rizwan’s recovery brought hope to the hosts. Unfortunately, the day’s play ended early due to bad light, cutting the match short before any further developments.
Earlier in the day, the match had already been delayed due to foggy conditions in Multan, further disrupting Pakistan’s plans for the day. Despite the challenges, the partnership between Shakeel and Rizwan proved crucial for Pakistan’s fightback, offering hope for the remaining days of the match.
The playing XI for both teams included some key players, with Pakistan’s lineup featuring Shan Masood, Muhammad Huraira, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, and others. The West Indies side was led by Kraigg Brathwaite and included players like Jayden Seales, Gudakesh Motie, and Tevin Imlach.
As the series continues, both teams will look to build on their performances, and with Shakeel and Rizwan’s solid effort, Pakistan hopes to strengthen their position in the upcoming days of the match.
