Pakistan win toss, elect to bat first against West Indies in 2nd T20I

Karachi: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first against West Indies in the 2nd T20I of the three-match series in Karachi on Tuesday. 

In the first match, Pakistan beat West Indies by 63 runs in a one-sided game, and they will also look to win today's encounter to sweep the series.

The third and last fixture of the T20I match series is on Thursday, December 16, in Karachi.

Mohammad Rizwan and Haider Ali struck fiery half centuries in the first Twenty20 international. Rizwan smashed a 52-ball 78 with 10 boundaries -- his 12th half-century and 11th this year -- while Haider scored a career-best 68 to guide the hosts to 200-6 in their 20 overs.

In the second innings, Pakistani bowlers were able to pick up quick wickets, with Shadab Khan taking three, Haris Rauf one, Mohammad Wasim four, Mohammad Nawaz one, and Shaheen Shah Afridi one.

Shai Hope (31) scored the most for the Windies, followed by Rovman Powell, who was able to contribute 23 runs to the West Indies' total of 137-10.

The National Command and Control Center had allowed full capacity crowd at the National Stadium in Karachi, allowing spectators to watch the matches between Pakistan and West Indies after the request of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).  

This becomes Pakistan’s 13th win in 19 Twenty20 internationals against West Indies, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Earlier, West Indies suffered a huge blow ahead of its T20I series after it was confirmed that the touring cricketers, along with a non-coaching member of the squad, have tested positive for COVID-19 and are ruled out of the series.

Pakistan Squad 

Babar Azam (c), 2 Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani/Mohammad Wasim

West Indies Squad 

Nicholas Pooran, Brandon King, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Dominic Drakes, Akeal Hosein, Hayden Walsh Jr, Oshane Thomas