Pakistan are set to take on West Indies in the first Test match of their two-match series, beginning on Friday at Multan Cricket Stadium.  Pakistan will enter the home Test series against West Indies on the back of a 0-2 series defeat at the hands of South Africa. They had shown great fightback against South Africa but failed to go all the way. Positively, their star batter Babar Azam regained his form during the South Africa series, playing masterful knocks in both games. 

The series is part of the World Test Championship final, but both sides are not in the race for final. Nonetheless, they would look to fine-tune their skills for future events. Meanwhile, this series will hold great importance for Pakistan given the upcoming Champions Trophy, starting on February 19. Pakistan players will use this series as an opportunity to prepare themselves for the blockbuster event. 

For Pakistan, Saim Ayub has been ruled out of the series due to an ankle injury picked up during the second Test against South Africa. Imam-ul-Haq has been recalled by Pakistan to fill in for Ayub.  West Indies, on the other hand, would eye their first Test win in Pakistan after November 1990. They have brilliant players in Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, and Jayden Seales. In last five Tests, Pakistan have emerged victorious on three occasions while West Indies have registered two victories. 

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, and Salman Ali Agha.

West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Joshua Da Silva (vc), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Amir Jangoo (wk), Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Jayden Seales, and Jomel Warrican.