West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran said that he is looking forward to the upcoming series against Bangladesh after a ‘disappointing’ loss in the three-match ODI series to Pakistan.
The Pakistan cricket team successfully defended a total of 269/9 in 48 overs versus West Indies in the second ODI in Multan on Sunday.
In response, West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals to falter as they bowled out for 216. Pakistan sealed the series 3-0.
“The last two games were disappointing for us. In the first game, we did well as a team. Going forward He says to everyone that he’s a batsman as well. Well played, Akeal. It’s been tough here, I am really proud of the players how they took the challenge,” said Pooran in a post-match presentation.
“Couple of days for the Bangladesh series, we are looking forward to that. (Multan crowd) They have been amazing, we love the fans. It’s a treat. They support good cricket and that’s appreciated,” he added.
Coming to the third ODI, the play was halted for approximately an hour due to a dust storm, which reduced the match to 48 overs a side, Pakistan slipped from 85 for no loss in the 17th over to a precarious 117 for five in the 25th over before recovering to post a commanding 269 for nine.
The bowlers then overcame the West Indies’ counterattack to dismiss the visitors for 216 in 37.2 overs. Akeal Hosein fought a lone battle, hitting two fours and six sixes in a 37-ball 60, while Keacy Carty scored 33 and Shai Hope and Keemo Paul contributed 21 runs apiece.
“For the last couple of years, he [Hope] has been the leader of our batting and he has been doing fantastic, but we definitely need to buff up on ourselves, myself especially,” Pooran told CWI Media after West Indies were swept 3-0 by Pakistan in Multan.
In six innings in Netherlands and Pakistan, Pooran managed just 81 runs at an average of 13.50 and a strike rate of 75. He last scored a fifty in the format almost 15 innings ago, against Australia in Bridgetown.
“In the last 10-12 innings, I haven’t scored [substantially] in ODI cricket and I’m very disappointed with myself as well. Looking forward to start scoring runs in ODI cricket and hopefully that changes as well. If I can start doing what I’m accustomed [to] doing in [the] middle overs for West Indies, hopefully the other guys can continue stringing partnerships and that could be the start of something special for us as a team.”
Pooran, too, was full of praise for Hosein, ahead of the third ODI.
“Very happy for him. He’s someone who is very hard working as well and it’s not just the last series and this series, but he has been doing well for the last couple of months and he’s a very hard worker again,” he said.
“It’s nice to see him getting a lot of wickets and getting the best batsmen out and happy that we can throw the ball to him and ask him to do a job for us – whether it is containing or getting wickets – not only Akeal but the rest of the bowlers are putting their hands up and trying to [execute] what is required for the team as well.”
West Indies will be squaring off with Bangladesh for a two-match Test series and one-off T20I from June 16.
The right signals Skip. Tell them as it is and please prove them wrong.