PROVIDENCE, Guyana (AFP) — West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and put Pakistan in to bat in the first fixture of a three-match one-day international series at the National Stadium in Guyana on Friday.

Playing on a surface that has been re-laid after continuous complaints about its low and slow nature, West Indies have opted to go into the match with two frontline fast bowlers in Alzarri Joseph and Shannon Gabriel, who has recovered from a side strain which forced him to miss the final encounter of the ODI series against England in Barbados a month ago.

Leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who marked his first Pakistan appearances at senior level with two ‘Man of the Match’ performances and the ‘Man of the Series’ award in the tourists’ 3-1 T20 series triumph, is now set to make his ODI debut in a bowling line-up that shows the return of left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Aamir.

West Indies are seeking a clean sweep of the series to move ahead of Pakistan at number eight in the international rankings.

By the cut-off date of September 30 this year, the top eight teams, including hosts England, will automatically qualify for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

Teams: West Indies – Jason Holder (captain), Kieran Powell, Evin Lewis, Chadwick Walton, Shai Hope (wicketkeeper), Jason Mohammed, Jonathan Carter, Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shannon Gabriel.

Pakistan – Sarfraz Ahmed (captain/wicketkeeper), Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Aamir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali.

Umpires: Joel Wilson (TRI), Simon Fry (AUS)

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)