West Indies men’s cricket team produced an eye-catching result in Multan when they leveled their two-Test series against hosts Pakistan 1-1, claiming a memorable 120-run victory. The visiting side had entered the contest as underdogs, especially given the spin-friendly surface that had unraveled their batting in the series opener. Defying expectations, skipper Kraigg Brathwaite’s squad found their resolve, battling through spin and uneven bounce to seize their first Test win on Pakistani soil in 35 years.
Jomel Warrican’s all-round brilliance stood out, as the 32-year-old spinner excelled with the ball and offered vital contributions with the bat, earning him both Player-of-the-Match and Player-of-the-Series honors. Given the identical conditions between the first and second Tests in Multan, the West Indies’ dramatic turnaround underscored the team’s fighting spirit—a throwback to the grit once synonymous with Caribbean cricket.
The victory triggered flashbacks to a similar upset nearly a year ago when the West Indies defeated mighty Australia in Brisbane after losing the first match of that series as well. Then, a young fast bowler named Shamar Joseph, nursing a toe injury, bowled himself into the headlines by taking seven wickets in the second innings, sealing a 1-1 draw. Captain Brathwaite had warned that consistent improvement would be essential if the team hoped to build on that Brisbane momentum. Unfortunately, a string of disappointing results followed, including a heavy series loss to England, a defeat to South Africa at home, and a drawn series against Bangladesh.
Cognizant of recent history, departing red-ball coach Andre Coley urged the team to sustain their hunger and growth. In limited-overs cricket, the West Indies experienced modest success in 2024—highlighted by a trip to the Super Eight of the Cricket World Cup—though results dipped near the end of the year. Meanwhile, West Indies women stamped their authority in a white-ball tour of Bangladesh, even as the regional Under-19 women’s performance at a recent World Cup fell short of expectations.
Looking ahead, the ongoing West Indies four-day championship—touted by Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe as the “bedrock” of Caribbean cricket—marks its 60th anniversary. As Jamaican entrepreneur Chris Dehring steps into his new role as Chief Executive Officer of Cricket West Indies, a full slate of challenges and opportunities awaits. For fans across the region, the question lingers: will the triumph in Multan signal a true revival for West Indies cricket, or remain another isolated moment of brilliance?
