5 talking points from the first Pakistan-West Indies T20I

Visitors beat hosts by six wickets

Pakistan downed West Indies on Sunday to take 1-0 lead in the four-match T20I series.

Here are the five talking point from the match.

1. Shadab Khan has the ingredients to become a great

Shadab Khan has the world at his feet. Figures of 3-7 in four overs make this arguably the best introduction to international T20 cricket since the format began more than a decade ago. His googly is almost unpickable, he can generate extra bounce, he has nerves of steel and an iron control over his line and length. He can be the next big thing, but for now, he has played only one T20I; let’s not get too carried away too fast.

There will be sterner tests ahead, and times will get worse. He will invariably come up against the likes of AB de Villiers, Kane Williamson, Virat Kohli and Steven Smith in future assignments. When he does, one of them will take a liking to him. Such is the nature of cricket these days; with bats more akin to weapons and pitches more akin to carpets.

How he reacts when all around him crumbles may well go on to define his career. He is sure to be punched to the ground, whether he gets back up is the question. He is sure to be outplayed and outmanoeuvred. He is sure to be outthought. He is sure to have a bad day in the years to come.

Things will not always be this rosy but for now we can celebrate the world’s most precocious bowling talent this side of Kagiso Rabada and Mustafizur Rahman.

2. This West Indies side isn’t worthy of being called world champions

They are champions, seemingly, by name alone. More than half of this side was not part of the team that won the World T20 in such dramatic fashion in India.

Yes, the two heroes of that unforgettable final — Carlos Brathwaite, now captain, and Marlon Samuels — remain, but make no mistake about it; this is not the same side. Without Darren Sammy, without Chris Gayle, without Andre Russel and without Dwayne Bravo, this side just doesn’t have the same feel.

3. West Indies must find a way to play the spinners

Shadab, as good as he was, was not the only one who troubled the West Indies. Imad Wasim in his three overs gave away 12 runs and claimed a wicket. The way Lendl Simmons, supposedly the hosts’ best player of spin, chopped a Shadab leg-spinner onto his own stumps suggests they don’t have a clue.

This may well be a long series for them if they don’t quickly figure things out.

4. Mohammad Hafeez needs to do more

The Professor has been struggling with both bat and ball for some time now, and is in the side merely on performances of the past. That goodwill, though, is fast running out and against a painfully mediocre West Indies side, he must deliver to save his career

5. Kamran Akmal’s fielding is amusing, for now

We all saw this one coming. A man who has kept wickets all his life is now being asked to take to the outfield at the age of 35. The Pakistan Super League’s best wicketkeeper is a woefully bad fielder.

It was funny to watch because Pakistan were winning and because we aren’t used to seeing the bucktoothed glovesman anywhere but behind the stumps. It will soon stop being funny and fast become frustrating. The last thing Kamran needs to do though is let his fielding bog his batting down.