By Ravi Madholall
International Cricket Council World Cup T20 victor West Indies and Pakistan will square off in the first of four allotted T20 matches on Sunday at the Kensington Oval, Barbados and former Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Royston Crandon is expecting the local boys to ditch out some big victories.
Royston Crandon
In an exclusive interview, the Berbician feels that once the Caribbean lads play to their true potential, they should be able to manufacture four victories, particularly on home soil.
“I [am] backing the West Indies team 100 percent because I know their capability in this version; the side looks strong and no doubt they will be anxious to beat the visitors in all four matches,” the right-handed and off-spinner Crandon revealed.
According to Crandon, who just appeared in a solitary one-day international against hosts South Africa, West Indies should really and feverishly maximize on home advantage and don’t be too complacent against the Pakistanis who are considered very ferocious too in the game’s shortest format.
“Obviously, the guys are all pumped up to clash at home based on what I have seen in T20 cricket; we have got some T20 specialists and that has given me the confidence of them beating the visitors once we can make full use of home advantage,” Crandon, the younger brother of Guyana Jaguars head coach and ex-Guyana fast-bowler Esuan Crandon, related.
Despite they were defeated by hosts Pakistan last year in Dubai in the T20 series, West Indies might start as firm favorite having sat higher than their opponents on the Rankings. West Indies are number four in comparison to Pakistan who at number 6.
Crandon vehemently believes that could be a good ‘weapon’ for the boys in the coveted maroon colors.
“We are the T20 World champions and that should inspire us to do well against Pakistan; they are a good team though and as I said that once we can execute our plans right and play passionate cricket, then we would cheer at the end of the series,” Crandon, still with the distinction of scoring a List A century on his debut for Guyana against Windward Islands 2007, mentioned.
Pakistan’s tour of the Caribbean will continue after the completion of the T20 series at the Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago on April 2.
They will be heading to Guyana for the commencement of three one-day encounters, 7th, 9th and 11th, all at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on the East Bank of Demerara.
Subsequently, the two teams will also engage in a three-match test series with the first match starts on April 22 at the Sabina Park facility in Jamaica.
Crandon stated that the one-day and test series should also be very intriguing because both sides will have some talented players for the longer versions.
With pugnacious middle-order batsman Kieron Pollard returning to the set-up owing to a fallout with Cricket West Indies, Crandon says it will be a tremendous boost for the side alluding to the fact that Pollard is fantastic T20 cricketer.
Video of USA vs Jersey at 2016 ICC World Cricket League Division 4 in California!
