Pakistan outlasted the West Indies with a win in Lauderhill, Florida, clinching the opening match by 14 runs. While the result looks comfortable on paper, the match itself raised plenty of questions, especially about Pakistan’s tactical decisions with the bat.
Saim Ayub Leads With Bat and Ball
Batting first, Pakistan posted 178 for 6, thanks to a confident knock from Saim Ayub. He struck 57 off 38 balls and gave Pakistan a solid platform alongside Fakhar Zaman, who added 28 from 24. The two shared an 81-run opening stand that finally gave Pakistan the kind of start they’ve been lacking in recent games.
However, the middle order couldn’t quite build on that momentum. After the openers fell, the scoring slowed, and Pakistan looked like they might fall short of a match-winning total. Fortunately, Hasan Nawaz contributed 24 off 18, and Faheem Ashraf added a late 16 off just 9 balls to push the score near the 180 mark.
Ayub wasn’t done yet. With the ball, he delivered a tidy spell and even picked up two crucial wickets, underlining his growing reputation as a valuable all-rounder.
Questionable Batting Calls Continue
Despite the win, Pakistan’s batting order once again became the centre of debate. Mohammad Haris — who recently smashed a century against Bangladesh — was surprisingly held back until No. 8. It was a strange decision, especially when the team needed someone to accelerate during the middle overs.
This wasn’t an isolated move either. Pakistan seemed overly focused on creating left-right combinations throughout the innings. While the tactic can be useful in theory to disrupt a bowler’s rhythm, here it ended up disrupting Pakistan’s own momentum. In-form batters were left waiting, and the batting rhythm faltered at key points.
There’s a growing feeling that Pakistan’s management may be overthinking match-ups instead of trusting their best players to play freely in roles that suit them.
Nawaz Turns the Game in One Over
Chasing 179, the West Indies started well. Johnson Charles and debutant Jewel Andrew both scored 35 and put together a 72-run opening stand. At one stage, it looked like they were cruising toward the target.
That’s when Mohammad Nawaz stepped up.
In the 12th over, Nawaz took three wickets in five balls, turning the match on its head. From 72 for no loss, West Indies suddenly found themselves struggling at 75 for 3. The collapse continued when Shai Hope was dismissed cheaply, and Pakistan took control.
Jason Holder did fight back with a quick 30 not out off just 12 balls, while Shamar Joseph added some late drama with 21 off 12, but it wasn’t enough. West Indies finished on 164 for 7, falling short by 14 runs.
What Pakistan Must Learn
This win will feel good, especially with several standout individual performances. But Pakistan still has work to do. The biggest lesson is simple: stop over-complicating the batting order.
Haris is in form and deserves a spot higher up. Forcing left-right combos might sound clever, but if it breaks flow and puts pressure on your own batters, it’s doing more harm than good.
Let your best players bat where they belong. Let them play freely. Pakistan has the talent, but to dominate stronger teams, the tactics need to catch up.
West Indies’ Shamar Joseph made a late impact with the bat—scoring 21 off 12—and also starred with the ball, finishing with 3/30.
Match Summary
Pakistan: 178/6
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Saim Ayub 57 (38), Fakhar Zaman 28 (24), Hasan Nawaz 24 (18), Faheem Ashraf 16 (9)
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Shamar Joseph 3/30
West Indies: 164/7
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Johnson Charles 35 (36), Jewel Andrew 35 (33), Jason Holder 30* (12)
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Mohammad Nawaz 3/23, Saim Ayub 2/20
Result: Pakistan won by 14 runs
Player of the Match: Saim Ayub
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