Explained: Why West Indies have ditched their Test vice-captain for a debutant | PACK against WI

Both sides announced their playing XIs on the eve of the match – the hosts doing so first, naming only one specialist pacer as well as a debutant opening batsman in the line-up.

In a series that has no bearing on the World Test Championship final, the West Indies have also given debuts to two players – bat Tevin Imlach and wicketkeeper Amir Jangoo.

West Indies drop vice-captain Joshua da Silva

Jangoo has come into the playing XI to replace Joshua da Silva, West Indies’ sitting gloveman and current vice-captain of the Test team. In fact, this is the first time Silva has missed a Test match since making his Wellington debut in December 2020 – a run of 33 consecutive matches.

The 26-year-old da Silva had made a solid start to his Test career with four 40-plus scores in his first six innings, batting primarily at no. 7 and no. 8. However, his form quickly dipped with six single-figure scores in his next 10 innings.

Also Read: Pakistan pick three front-line spinners and debutant for first Test in West Indies

da Silva scored 82* and 49 in consecutive Tests against England last summer but has since scored just 92 runs in nine innings at an average of 11.5 with the bat in a lineup that is a bit unreliable at best.

A replacement for da Silva has arisen in a timely manner in the form of Amir Jangoo, who made his West Indies ODI debut last month and became the first player in men’s ODI history to score a century on debut from no. 4 or below. Coming from Trinidad and Tobago like da Silva, Jangoo had an outstanding season in last year’s Super50 Cup, the West Indies’ domestic List A competition.

His overall first-class record is not unusual – 1909 runs at an average of 34.1 – but in the last calendar year he scored exactly 500 runs at an average of 100 on the dot. The standout knock was a double century (218) from no. 5 in April, helping take T&T from 103-3 to 591-7. Coincidentally, da Silva also batted in that round, scoring 79 from no. 7.

Between his recent good form in not just one but two formats and the promise Jangoo has shown at the international level, the West Indies have little to lose and much to gain by picking him ahead of a wicketkeeper currently in crisis.

Playing XIs: Pakistan v West Indies, First Test

Pakistan

Shan Masood (c), Mohammad Huraira, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Noman Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Abrar Ahmed.

West Indies

Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Keacy Carty, Kavem Hodge, Alick Athanaze, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach, Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Jomel Warrican, Amir Jangoo, Jayden Seales.

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