Persistent rain played the spoilsport in the opening T20I match between West Indies and Pakistan at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown. The contest was earlier reduced to a nine-over shootout, but the chase had never got underway under cloudy skies in Barbados.
Babar Azam chose to bowl after winning the toss. But heavy rain then forced both teams to return to their respective dressing rooms after completing their national anthems.
On debut, Mohammad Wasim (1-20) landed a blow on Lendl Simmons’ (9) neck in the second over. Simmons had begun his innings with two classy boundaries, but could not continue after being struck. Chris Gayle (7) and Evin Lewis (6) did not last long either as West Indies went on backfoot early in the contest.
Nicholas Pooran smashed two sixes in his 11-ball 13, but Mohammad Hafeez, coming to bowl the fourth over, removed him to restrict further damage. Kieron Pollard (22* in 9) remained till the end, and helped West Indies post a challenging 85/5.
The Pakistanis bowled 30 dot balls out of 54. Hasan Ali was the most impressive, with 2-11. Usman Qadir (1-6) also bowled accurately in his only over before the rain had the last laugh to curtail the game.
Brief scores: West Indies 85/5 in 9 overs (Kieron Pollard 22*; Hasan Ali 2-11) vs Pakistan. Match abandoned due to rain.