March three, 2009 - the day whilst 12 gunmen released a lethal assault on the touring Sri Lankan group close to the Gaddafi stadium, Lahore, ensuing in accidents to Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paravitarana. The ghastly attack left impossible scars on the minds of the Sri Lankan cricketers and additionally Pakistan. Pakistan, as a end result, never hosted a cricket game of their native land, till Zimbabwe became the first team to tour the kingdom in 2015. Seven years for this reason, they defied the odds and thrived in exile to turn out to be the No.1 ranked test facet. In tough instances, the Asian us of a mountaineering to the pinnacle spot inside the longest format of the sport has acted as a balm for his or her passionate fanatics lower back domestic who're deprived of witnessing cricket of their outdoor, after Pakistan were made to undertake the United Arab Emirates as their domestic because. The side, but, has struggled to make an effect inside the shorter versions of the game. This year, they did not qualify for the Asia Cup very last and bowed out of the world Twenty20 2016 held in India in the group phase. in the backdrop of early exits and disappointing results, Pakistan have the venture of reviving their floundering fortunes when they take on the defending world T20 champions, West Indies, within the first of the three-match Twenty20 international (T20I) collection to be played in Dubai on Friday (September 23). That said, Pakistan performed with renewed energy in the one-off T20I towards England at old Trafford earlier this month, and received the game with the aid of a powerful margin of nine wickets with the likes of Imad Wasim, Sharjeel Khan, Hasan Ali, Khalid Latif and Wahab Riaz shining brightly. And, to top that, Sarfraz Ahmed led the side admirably and might be hoping his facet can deliver ahead the momentum. Umar Akmal's return, after he become dropped due to disciplinary motives for the britain excursion, would in addition bolster the facet. within the bowling branch, Pakistan will wish that the spin duo of Wasim and Mohammad Nawaz can preserve a lid on the scoring fee. Hasan's capacity to mix short deliveries with properly-disguised slower ones also should are available in on hand for what's predicted to be a sluggish music. Saad Nasim, the batting all-rounder from Lahore, and Rumman Raees, who's known for bowling lethal yorkers inside the home circuit, have been given call-united statesto the squad. West Indies, however, may be lacking the offerings of Chris Gayle and Andre Russell. Gayle sustained a groin pressure during the two-in shape T20I collection towards India, while Russell withdrew from the excursion because of private reasons. The site visitors, though, nonetheless have sufficient firepower in their ranks to conquer Pakistan. Johnson Charles, Kieron Pollard and Carlos Brathwaite can release the large hits. Evin Lewis, too, gave a glimpse of his capacity to clear the boundary ropes with an enterprising hundred off just forty nine balls within the first T20I towards India in Florida. Nicholas Pooran, who first got here into the limelight together with his blazing innings of 143 in opposition to Australia inside the beneath-19 global Cup in 2014, has been picked. The wicketkeeper-batsman turned into in prolific form in this season's Caribbean most suitable League (CPL) in which he compiled 217 runs. Rovman Powell, the center-order batsman from Jamaica, has also been rewarded for his consistency inside the CPL. by the way, the duo notched up useful rankings to assist the visitors conquer Emirates Board XI in a heat-up sport a few days in the past. Dwayne Bravo and Samuel Badree might be the mainstays of the bowling line-up. Sunil Narine, too, returns to the set-up. On turning tracks of the UAE, the duo of Badree and Narine need to form a potent pair to contend with. while: Pakistan vs West Indies, 1st T20I on September 23 at 9.30 PM IST (eight:00 PM nearby) in which: Dubai worldwide Cricket Stadium, Dubai what to anticipate: The climate forecast predicts a heat day. The music is predicted to be slow and coffee in nature. incidentally, spinners like Saeed Ajmal, George Dockrell and Shahid Afridi have dominated the roost on gradual pitches of Dubai. crew information: Pakistan: There had been speculations that a befitting farewell could be given to Afridi before he ends his international career by means of allowing him to play in a T20I in opposition to West Indies. however, the idea has been dropped through the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Akmal would possibly slot into the playing XI and in all likelihood, and the hosts might opt for Nawaz as the second one spinner. Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Hafeez were overlooked due to health troubles. West Indies: Kesrick Williams, acknowledged for his misleading tempo and Pooran could probable make their T20I debuts for the Caribbean side. What they said: "We respect each opposition that we come up in opposition to, and we are going to do the equal against Pakistan. we are going to prepare well, knowing that Pakistan are a totally, very risky crew." - Samuel Badree. Squads: Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c&wk), Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Saad Nasim, Rumman Raees, Hasan Ali, Khalid Latif, Sharjeel Khan, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz West Indies: Carlos Brathwaite (c), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher (wk), Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams.