West Indies open Champions Trophy against Pakistan
Published:Wednesday | September 23, 2009 | 8:58 AM
West Indies will open their International Cricket Council Champions Trophy campaign today when they face Pakistan at the Wanderers in South Africa.
The match is scheduled to start this morning Jamaica time at 7:30.
The Caribbean side is without their top-flight players because of contracts dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board.
Veteran Floyd Reifer will lead the inexperienced side which has lost their two official warm up games.
Pakistan, the World 20/Twenty champions, will be led by all-rounder Shahid Afridi in the absence of Younis Khan, who was ruled out due to a finger injury.
The match will also mark the return of fast bowler Mohammad Asif to the Pakistan side after serving a one-year ban for a failed dope test.
West Indies have been drawn in Group ‘A’ alongside the Pakistanis, defending champions Australia and current World Number 2 India.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka won the opening match of the tournament yesterday by defeating hosts South Africa by 55 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis Method at SuperSport Park.