TAROUBA: Pakistan’s batting line-up came under early pressure as the visitors slipped to 25-3 while chasing a target of 211 against the West Indies on the fourth day of the opening Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday. West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales made an immediate impact with the new ball, removing Pakistan’s top order during an impressive opening spell. His early breakthroughs left the tourists struggling before lunch and handed the hosts complete control of the contest. Pakistan’s chase began on a disappointing note when opener Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed for just five runs. Azan Awais also failed to settle at the crease, contributing only three runs before returning to the pavilion. With both openers dismissed inside the first five overs, Pakistan found themselves under significant pressure at 21-2. Seales continued his destructive spell by trapping Salman Ali Agha leg before wicket without allowing him to score. The dismissal reduced Pakistan to 25-3, placing the visitors in a difficult position with a challenging target still well out of reach. Experienced batter Babar Azam then joined wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan in an attempt to stabilize the innings. The pair negotiated the remaining overs of the morning session without losing another wicket, providing Pakistan with some much-needed resistance after the early collapse. Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s bowlers wrapped up the West Indies’ second innings for 181, setting a victory target of 211. Veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas starred with the ball, producing another outstanding spell to claim his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The West Indies resumed play at 126-7, hoping their lower order could stretch the lead and make Pakistan’s chase more difficult. Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach responded with an aggressive counterattack, frustrating the Pakistani bowlers with a valuable lower-order partnership. The pair added 28 runs during the morning session to extend their stand to 61 runs. Their attacking approach pushed the West Indies’ overall lead beyond 180 runs, strengthening the hosts’ position in the match. Shamar Joseph played an entertaining innings, scoring 38 runs from just 27 deliveries. His knock featured four towering sixes and one boundary, allowing the West Indies to score valuable quick runs before Pakistan finally broke the partnership. Mohammad Ali provided the breakthrough by deceiving Joseph with a slower delivery, bringing an end to the dangerous stand. Despite the dismissal, the West Indies tail continued to add useful runs as Kemar Roach and Jomel Warrican frustrated Pakistan with another steady partnership. Roach contributed 18 runs before becoming Mohammad Abbas’ fourth victim of the innings. Warrican also added an important 14 runs, helping the West Indies move their lead closer to the 200-run mark. Abbas then completed the innings by dismissing Warrican, finishing with exceptional figures of 5 wickets for 22 runs in 15.5 overs. His disciplined pace bowling proved crucial in preventing the West Indies from posting an even bigger target. Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad also played important supporting roles with the ball. Ali picked up two wickets in his 14-over spell, while Khurram Shahzad claimed two scalps after bowling 15 overs. Although Pakistan succeeded in restricting the West Indies to 181 in the second innings, the visitors’ difficult start with the bat shifted the momentum back in favour of the home side. With Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan at the crease, Pakistan will rely heavily on their experienced pair to steer the chase and keep hopes of victory alive as the first Test heads toward an exciting finish.

BRIDGETOWN: West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has responded to comments made by head coach Darren Sammy regarding his absence from the ongoing Test series against Pakistan, saying his decision was taken out of context and has created a misleading public perception. The controversy emerged after Cricket West Indies initially cited “personal reasons” for Joseph’s unavailability. However, subsequent remarks by Sammy suggested that the pacer had declined selection for the series, sparking widespread discussion among cricket fans and analysts. In a statement, Joseph clarified that his decision was based solely on his physical condition following a lengthy recovery from his second stress fracture in the back within the past year. The fast bowler explained that he had only recently returned to Test cricket and had already played two demanding Tests against Sri Lanka, followed by five consecutive One-Day Internationals against New Zealand. After that workload, he felt his body was not ready for another Test series without adequate rest. Joseph said the coach’s comments were made without presenting the full background, leading many to misunderstand his position. “I believe the remarks were incomplete and created the wrong impression among the public,” he said, stressing that his commitment to West Indies cricket remains unchanged. The 29-year-old also dismissed suggestions that he had turned his back on the national team, saying he has always been proud to represent the West Indies whenever he is physically fit. Joseph reaffirmed that he remains a professional cricketer dedicated to serving his country and its supporters. He added that his responsibility is to the West Indies team and the people of the Caribbean, not to any individual. His clarification comes as the West Indies continue their Test campaign against Pakistan, with discussions over player workload and injury management increasingly becoming an important issue in international cricket. The latest exchange has highlighted the challenges teams face in balancing player fitness with the demands of a packed international schedule.