Pakistan Eye West Indies Clean Sweep.

MULTAN -- Pakistan are currently fifth in the international ODI rankings and West Indies are lurking on the ninth position, but it cannot be considered the best way to analyse why the hosts beat them in the first two matches.

Pakistan have been weak in the ODIs in the past few years, however, the West Indies have been giving them competition in being worse than them. But if we look at the last two matches, as individual matches without any retrospect, they were quality encounters, with each side showing promise.

The first match was a perfect case study into how ODI cricket is now faster than usual. Scoring 300-plus total doesn't necessarily mean that the match has turned into one's favour. It only means that you have a good amount of runs to defend.

West Indies went ballistic in the first ODI to post 305 runs on the board. Pakistan would have wanted to restrict them to a lower total to push past the finish line with ease. However, an in-form Babar Azam and some quality hitting from Khushdil Shah at the end of the chase helped Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

After the PSL flop with Karachi Kings, many were thinking that Babar has lost his Midas touch in all formats, but he showed why he is one of the greatest batters of this generation with captain's knocks against first Australia and now the West Indies.

Meanwhile, Khushdil delivering with his big hits was a positive sign for Pakistan with the T20 World Cup in Australia around the corner. While the bowlers' performances should also be discussed during the first ODI, it won't be wrong to call it a battle of batters, rather than a bowlers' show. Next came the second 50-over clash in the sweltering Multan heat and Pakistan showed why...