ICC CWC 2019 highlights: West Indies demolish Pakistan by 7 wickets

Amir was set to make his World Cup debut as West Indies won toss and asked Pakistan to bat in Match 2 of cricket World Cup match at Trent Bridge. Check WI vs PAK LIVE score, match commentary here

2:10 PM

Key players for Pakistan

Pakistan have the likes of Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman who are in great form. And in their bowling department, they have the likes of Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Hasan Ali who can wreak havoc on any batting line-up in the world.

2:06 PM

Here are predicted playing 11 of both teams

WI playing 11: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmeyer, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Kemar Roach
 
PAK playing 11: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Shahdab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi

2:04 PM

Mohammad Amir on Pakistan world cup preparation

Amir said Pakistan had positive memories of playing in England, which they hoped to take into the World Cup.
 
"Our triumph in the World Twenty20 was excellent and then the Champions Trophy -- the impact of those wins are with us and the amount of support we get in the UK is extraordinary, so naturally we will like to match those.
 
"People love the Pakistan team and come in large numbers to support us. I can't forget the final of the Champions Trophy at the Oval (2017)."

1:44 PM

World Cup a dream come true for Pakistan's Mohammad Amir

Pakistan spearhead Mohammad Amir says playing in the World Cup will be a dream come true after he missed the previous two tournaments following a ban for spot-fixing.
 
The 27-year-old nearly missed out this time as he was left out of the preliminary World Cup squad, having taken just five wickets in the 14 matches before the recent one-day international series against England.
 
He did not get to bowl in the first match against England at the Oval, which was ruined by the weather, and missed the last four games with a bout of chicken pox. The home side won the series 4-0.
 
But selectors decided to include him in the final 15 for the World Cup in England and Wales.
 
"It's a dream come true," Amir told AFP ahead of Pakistan's first match against West Indies at Trent Bridge on Friday.
 
"Every cricketer dreams of representing his country in a World Cup so this is my chance.
 
"My target is to take wickets and be a third-time lucky in England after winning the World Twenty20 and Champions Trophy," said the paceman, recalling Pakistan's triumphs in England in 2009 and 2017.

1:33 PM

Mohammad Amir fit for World Cup debut, says Pakistan captain

Pace spearhead Mohammad Amir is fit and available for selection for Pakistan's opening World Cup match against the West Indies on Friday, captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said.

There was speculation that the 27-year-old, who missed the last four matches of the one-day international series against England earlier this month, might not be able to make his World Cup debut at Trent Bridge.

"Amir is fully fit and available for selection for tomorrow's game," Sarfaraz said in his pre-match press conference.

Amir, who missed the 2011 and 2015 World Cups due to a five-year ban for spot-fixing, was seen bowling using his full run-up in the team's practice session. Sarfaraz said he hoped the team could put behind them a streak of 10 straight ODI defeats.

1:22 PM

West Indies team so unpredictable: Kevin Pietersen

West Indies during their second ICC Men's Cricket World Cup warm-up match posted a target of 422 runs for the New Zealand side and registered a 91-run victory, a performance which has amazed former England batsman Kevin Pietersen so much that he called the team 'unpredictable.'
 
"Normally Pakistan are the unpredictable team, but this West Indies team is so unpredictable. The way they beat New Zealand was some, some cricket. They've picked Andre Russell, he's in form," ICC quoted Pietersen, as saying.
 
Although Pietersen is not certain about West Indies lifting the World Cup, he picked them as one of the semi-finalist teams in the quadrennial tournament along with India, England, and Australia.
 
"My semi-finalists would be India, England, Australia and the West Indies. It'll be one of those that win. Gayle is solidifying the top order, and they have some great youngsters. I just like this West Indies outfit. Will they win? Probably not, but that's my top four," he said.
 
Other than calling West Indies the 'unpredictable' ones, Pietersen called India and England 'favourites' and termed Australia as the 'dark horses.'
 
"India and England are probably the favourites, the dark horses are Australia and the unpredictables are West Indies," Pietersen said.

1:12 PM

Here’s are the squad of both the sides

West Indies (From): Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope(w), Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder(c), Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Shannon Gabriel, Fabian Allen, Nicholas Pooran

Pakistan (From): Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w/c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Asif Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Sohail

1:03 PM

Preview

Pakistan will seek inspiration from their dramatic Champions Trophy win in England two years ago when they take the field in their opening World Cup match against a resurgent West Indies on Friday. Pakistan have lost their past ten one-day internationals including a 5-0 whitewash by Australia and 4-0 thumping by England, and their problems were further compounded when they went down to outsiders Afghanistan by three wickets in a warm-up match.

But skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed hopes his side will draw inspiration from when they were in a similar position in 2017. "We will seek inspiration from our Champions Trophy win because then also we were losing and then lifted ourselves at the right time to win the trophy," Sarfaraz told news agency AFP ahead of the game in Nottingham.

Pakistan had lost 4-1 in Australia before the tournament and arch-rivals India whipped them by 124 runs in the opening game of the Trophy. But Pakistan then beat South Africa, Sri Lanka and England on their way to the final, where they thumped India by 180 runs. On the other hand, West Indies are also returning to form after sneaking their way into the World Cup through a qualifying round in Zimbabwe last year.

They squared a one-day series against top-ranked side and pre-tournament favourites England 2-2 at home earlier this year before losing the final of a tri-series to Bangladesh in Ireland.