The West Indies handed a major blow to Pakistan ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, as they ended their 34-year-long drought in a bilateral series against the Men in Green. Jayden Seales, the fast bowler, and skipper Shai Hope’s stunning performance handed the Windies the comprehensive win.
Pakistan has a compelling schedule ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, as the team looks to revamp its fortunes in white-ball cricket. However, as of now, nothing seems to go in favour of the PCB or the the Men in Green.
Currently on their tour to the West Indies, despite the presence of all their senior pros, the Men in Green failed to win the series in the Caribbean despite having made a good start in the first ODI at Trinidad.
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A brief highlight—the West Indies defeat Pakistan in bilaterals after a 34-year-long wait
If any cricket team making tough choices needs a limit, the visitors have surely reached the very level where they have to enforce changes. The Men in Green lost the series 2-1 after having made a winning start to their ODI campaign.
Jayden Seales, the young and dynamic West Indies pacer, tore through the Pakistan batting order as he dismissed the top 4 within no time. He finished the game with a 6-wicket haul, though Shai Hope was named the Player of the Match for his unbeaten hundred that set the tone for a series win for West Indies.
For the first time since 1991, the West Indies have defeated the Men in Green in an ODI bilateral series, and the joy is evident in their social media posts boasting the same. Pakistan were bowled out for just 92 runs as the West Indies claimed a huge 202-run victory.
Babar Azam’s Asia Cup return under threat after humiliating flops in ODIs
Before the ODI series began, the two teams played in the T20 series, and opener Fakhar Zaman was injured during the series. As a result, he was deemed doubtful for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
The Men in Green have hence shown interest in acquiring the services of former skipper and veteran batter Babar Azam, who has been missing from the T20I squad for a long time.
Babar Azam was the frontrunner for the role, but his performance in the ODI series against the West Indies would be the deciding factor that would seal his spot in the T20 side ahead of the Asia Cup.
Pakistan will next play a tri-nation series in the UAE
The Men in Green will next advance to play in the tri-nation series with Afghanistan and the UAE as the two other teams. Pakistan was supposed to play the bilateral series against Afghanistan; however, they asked the UAE to go forward with the tri-nation series.
The series will conclude before the onset of the Asia Cup 2025, where the Men in Green will play the continental championship in the UAE. They have been placed in the same group alongside India, UAE, and Oman in Group A.
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