Kieron Pollard unavailable for the Pakistan tour due to a hamstring injury

West Indies were dealt with a major blow on Sunday (December 4) as their limited-overs skipper Kieron Pollard has been ruled out of the upcoming Pakistan tour due to not fully recovering from a hamstring injury. The talismanic all-rounder suffered a blow to his hamstring during the recently completed 20-20 World Cup. The West Indies will begin their white-ball tour of Pakistan on December 13.

Advertisment

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel has now named Devon Thomas as the replacement player in the ODI team and Rovman Powell as the replacement player for the three-match T20I series. Meanwhile, Pollard will now undergo rehabilitation work in Trinidad under the supervision of CWI Chief Medical Officer Dr. Israel Dowlat. Pollard’s condition and fitness will now be monitored in the coming few weeks ahead of the West Indies' home assignments against Ireland and England.

Vice-captain Nicholas Pooran will now lead the team in the T20Is. The southpaw was also seen leading the side during the bilateral series against Australia earlier this year. Meanwhile, Shai Hope will lead the team for the first time in the three-match ODI series. This will be the first time the Caribbean team will play ODI and T20I series since 2006 in Pakistan. This is also the first time a visiting team is touring Pakistan following the cancellation of the New Zealand and England series.

All the six white-ball matches between Pakistan and West Indies are scheduled to take place at the National Stadium in Karachi. Pakistan are in some terrific form in T20Is. The team has only lost one match in the last completed eight games. Pakistan also finished as a semifinalist during the 20-20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, West Indies had a horrible campaign as they bowed out in the Super 12 stage itself. The ODI series will be part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.