WT20: It's do-or-die match for West Indies and Pakistan today

Chris Gayle and Shahid Afridi

Mirpur: It will be a battle between two world-class off-spinners as defending champions West Indies meet Pakistan in a 'do-or-die' final group league encounter of the ICC World Twenty20 here today.


Windies skipper Darren Sammy sips coconut water during a practice session yesterday. Pic/AFP

Both teams are on four points each and it will be a virtual quarter-final clash to decide on the second semi-finalist from Group 2 after India emerged group champions with an all-win record.

The match is being billed as a battle between the mystery spinners with West Indies banking heavily on Sunil Narine while Pakistan's hopes will be pinned on Saeed Ajmal.

"The team that plays spinners well will win the match. We know that it is a match where we can't make a mistake," Pakistan captain Mohammed Hafeez said.

While West Indies' inspirational win against Australia has given the team much-needed boost, Pakistan also had two convincing victories against Australia and hosts Bangladesh.

Both teams are on even keel as far as their strengths are concerned and it will be interesting to see how the rival batsmen tackle the spinners.

To complement Narine, West Indies also have leg-spinner Samuel Badree, who is second in the ICC's list of T20 bowlers after teammate Sunil Narine.

While Narine has bowled with a superb economy rate of 4.66 runs per over in the three matches, Badree has compensated for his 6.66 economy rate with seven scalps.