Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has opened up about the reasons behind his team’s loss to West Indies in the second One Day International (ODI) of the ongoing series. The defeat has leveled the three-match series at 1-1, following Pakistan’s victory in the first ODI.
The second ODI was a rain-affected game, shortened to 37 overs per side. Pakistan posted a competitive total of 171 for 7 wickets. However, West Indies chased down the target comfortably, winning by five wickets.
Rizwan highlighted a key concern regarding the choice of the fifth bowler. He admitted that the part-time bowlers, Saim Ayub and Salman Agha, gave away too many runs without taking wickets. Together, they conceded 66 runs in seven overs without any success.
“You could say our fifth bowler gave away too many runs but in recent years, Salman Agha and Saim Ayub have both bowled well for us,” Rizwan said after the match. He also added that Saim did not have the best day but had performed well in the earlier Twenty20 matches against the West Indies.
This loss has created a dilemma for the Pakistan team management over the team combination for the deciding third ODI. Rizwan stated that they will take a late call on the playing XI after assessing the conditions on match day.
The captain also pointed out the difficulties posed by the unpredictable weather. Multiple rain delays disrupted the game, making it hard for the team to read the pitch and adjust their strategy.
“Honestly, the weather forecast has been completely different from expectations, and it’s hard to read,” Rizwan explained. “We’re keeping our options open and will finalize the XI after assessing the conditions.”
Before this ODI series, Pakistan had won the Twenty20 series 2-1 against West Indies, showing strong form in the shorter format. However, the ODI matches have proven to be more challenging, especially under difficult weather conditions.
Rizwan’s honest assessment highlights the challenges Pakistan faced, particularly with bowling options and adapting to weather disruptions. His team will aim to come back stronger in the final match to secure the series victory.
The third ODI is scheduled for Tuesday, and fans will be eager to see how Pakistan adjusts their strategy to claim the series win against the West Indies.
