WI Select XI vs PAK warm-up highlights: Babar Azam marks Pakistan captaincy return with century before West Indies Test series

WI Select XI vs PAK warm-up highlights: Babar Azam marks Pakistan captaincy return with century before West Indies Test series originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Babar Azam scored an unbeaten century in his first game back as captain.
• Babar replaced axed Shan Masood before the WI series.
• Pakistan are set to face West Indies for a two-match Test series starting on July 25.

WI Select XI vs PAK warm-up highlights: Day 1 as Babar Azam scores century

Babar Azam wasted no time announcing his return to the Test captaincy, walking away with a composed hundred in Pakistan’s warm-up fixture against a West Indies Select XI ahead of the upcoming series in the Caribbean.

Pakistan’s top order got off to a mixed start. Azan Awais anchored the innings with a patient hundred before retiring hurt, while Imam-ul-Haq fell early for 10. Shan Masood, who is now playing under his successor, chipped in with a fluent 70.

It was Babar, though, who stole the spotlight, walking to the crease and constructing an unbeaten 100 off 151 balls before choosing to retire out. It was an innings built on rhythm and control rather than flash, exactly what he would have wanted heading into a tough series, as he laced his innings with 12 fours and one six. 

MORE: ‘If there’s no noise, there’s no fun’: Rohit brushes off ODI retirement speculation

At the end of Day 1, Pakistan have posted 455 runs on the board, for the loss of four wickets. 

West Indies used nine bowlers, and among them, Ryan Bandoo emerged as the most successful with two wickets for 86 runs. 

MORE: Jason Gillespie blasts Aaqib Javed for alleged lies, calls Pakistan selector a ‘muppet’

Babar’s previous stint offers some hope

By comparison, Babar’s first spell as Test captain between 2020 and 2023 was considerably more successful, winning 10 of his 20 matches while losing just six.

He maintained a batting average above 50 and guided Pakistan to series victories over South Africa, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Nonetheless, Babar’s second stint begins with an extremely difficult assignment. A two-match series against a red-hot West Indies side awaits first. They have been ruthless recently, having demolished Sri Lanka in their previous series, including an innings victory by 217 runs in the second Test.

That tour is followed immediately by a three-match series in England, which is Pakistan’s first there in six years, before a challenging home season against New Zealand and Sri Lanka rounds off a punishing calendar.

MORE: Babar Azam vows to focus on three key aspects ahead of new journey as PAK captain

(Getty)

Full Schedule: Pakistan tour of the West Indies

MatchDatesVenue1st Test vs West Indies25-29 JulyBrian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba2nd Test vs West Indies2-6 AugustQueen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain

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