Rizwan Optimistic as Pakistan Gears Up for Crucial ODI Decider Against West Indies

Pakistan's skipper, Mohammed Rizwan, expressed confidence in his team's bowlers as they prepare for the crucial final ODI against West Indies, despite a setback in Tarouba where they faced a five-wicket loss. The West Indies had levelled the series with a dominant display led by Roston Chase and Justin Greaves who achieved an unbeaten partnership of 77 runs, successfully chasing a revised target of 181 at Brian Lara Stadium in a rain-adjusted match.

Rizwan refrained from confirming the lineup for the series' concluding match but supported Saim Ayub and Salman Agha, who had a challenging outing, to rebound. He remarked, "Even though our fifth bowler leaked runs, both Salman and Saim have been instrumental in our squad in recent years. Conditions have been unpredictable, affecting plans, and we'll decide the XI post-assessment," as reported by ICC.

This victory marked the West Indies' first win over Pakistan in over six years, their last being at the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. Coach Daren Sammy and captain Shai Hope highlighted this series' role in their preparation for future World Cups, aiming to refine their overall gameplay. "Seeing Chase and Greaves adapt was encouraging," Hope said, adding that the players' adaptability in middle overs was crucial to their win, along with contributions from Sherfane Rutherford.

(With inputs from agencies.)