West Indies opt to bat first as Pakistan drop Mohammad Abbas

West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first against Pakistan in the second Test at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on Sunday.

West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first against Pakistan in the second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on Sunday. The hosts went into the match with an unchanged playing XI from the series opener.

Pakistan, meanwhile, made four changes to their lineup for this fixture. Pacer Mohammad Abbas was among those dropped, with captain Babar Azam citing the pitch and match conditions as the reasoning behind the call.

Two players were handed their maiden Test caps for this match. Ubaid Shah and Awais Zafar both made their debuts for the side. Alongside them, Abdullah Shafique and Sajid Khan returned to the playing eleven after being left out previously.

On the flip side, a few key names were missing from Pakistan’s squad this time around. Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad were both left out of the XI. Captain-in-waiting Shan Masood also remained unavailable due to injury, adding to the selection headaches facing the team management.

West Indies currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. They sealed that advantage with a 90-run win over Pakistan in the opening Test, played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

The stakes in this second Test are significant for the hosts. A win, or even a draw, would be enough to hand West Indies their first Test series victory over Pakistan in 26 years. Their most recent series win against Pakistan dates back to 2000, making this a rare opportunity for the Caribbean side to end a long wait.

For Pakistan, the changes reflect an attempt to find the right balance after their defeat in the first Test. The inclusion of two debutants suggests the team management is looking to inject fresh energy into the squad, while also adjusting the bowling attack to better suit local conditions.

West Indies fielded Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope (wk), Amir Jangoo, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, and Jayden Seales for this Test.

Pakistan’s playing eleven featured Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Awais Zafar, Ali Usman, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Ali, and Ubaid Shah.

With both sides fielding largely settled top orders, the outcome of this Test could go a long way in shaping the final result of the series.