/ Editor / 12 March 2007 /

West Indies v Pakistan (Tuesday - Live on Sky Sports)

You can forget about all of the predictions and the warm-up games on Tuesday when the 2007 Cricket World Cup finally gets underway with a match between the hosts West Indies and the talented but inconsistent Pakistan, at what is sure to be an excitable Sabina Park in Jamaica.

The tournament opener could well be the most important game both of these sides play, as the loser of it - assuming both qualify for the Super 8 phase to follow - will go to the second phase at a massive disadvantage needing to beat some of the top seeds to reach the semi-finals.

Both sides have been wildly inconsistent in their recent form, but if punters are taking warm-up form seriously it will be Pakistan who will probably command the most interest at a price around 2.34 in the match odds market.

The price is a little surprising given the high they come into the tournament on, and in the wake of a stunning seven-wicket hiding of the world's top ranked one-day international team South Africa in their final warm-up game in Trinidad.

Until they arrived in the Caribbean, Pakistan were a team in turmoil, something that has been in evidence ever since the controversial end to their tour of England in 2006, among arguments over ball-tampering and drug suspensions.

Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif, the two players involved in the drugs controversy, were both selected for the World Cup party but 'injuries' ruled them out of the trip. Seemingly though the squad has been in a far better mood since, despite also lacking Abdul Razzaq from their all-rounder spot and Shahid Afridi for the first two games in the Caribbean, due to his suspension for an attack on a fan in the stands during the recent tour of South Africa.

But through adversity the team's performances seem to have improved, and anyone who has supported them at prices around the currently available 16 will have some kind of positive view going into the tournament.

The thing that they never lost was the talent in their side, and if all of the main pieces come together at the same time they should be a threat, especially in a game such as this one as they bid to make a good start to their bid for glory.

The top Pakistan batsman market will probably be dominated by their middle order in the absence of a settled opening partnership, and also because of the fine form shown by skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and more so Mohammad Yousuf.

Yousuf has been one of the most consistent batsmen in world cricket over the last year and became the world record holder for Test runs scored in a year, with his stellar 2006 in England and back at home.

Although he averages less runs in one-day cricket (42 to 56 in Tests), Yousuf remains a massive threat in run-scoring markets and is the class of his team, which will most likely be anchored by two of Mohammed Hafeez, Imran Nazir and keeper Kamran Akmal at the top of the order. The instability at the top of the order could make prices about the West Indies having a higher opening partnership worth a look.

The other main threat is usual number three Younis Khan, who top-scored with 79 in the confidence-boosting win over South Africa, but there is little in the way of lower-order runs on the menu in the absence of hard-hitting demolition merchant Afridi.

Talking of confidence, it was something that was high in the West Indies camp until their humiliating defeat by India in the final warm-up game, when they were bowled out for a paltry 85 and lost with 32 overs to spare.

Although India are undoubtedly a classy team at their best, the lack of effort shown by the cavalier West Indies batting line-up and some of the shots they played to get out will have been a big worry for anyone concerned with the team.

Much like their opponents, at their best the West Indies are a fantastic side to watch and in Chris Gayle, who is one of few to have made a one-day century at Sabina Park, they have one of the better opening batsmen in one-day cricket.

The always-smiling Gayle averages just under 40 from his spot at the top of the order, and has played some wonderfully flowing innings during his career. He has turned 29 scores over 50 into 15 centuries, three of which came in India during last season's Champions Trophy as they progressed all the way to the final, losing to Australia when he top-scored with 37 in a wide-margin defeat.

The top four in the Windies line-up is very settled and very experienced, and with home advantage at hand as well, they will expect to put up a big total if they get the chance to bat first on a wicket that should provide help to the batsmen since the big redevelopment in the run-up to the finals.

Gayle's opening partner Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been the man most benefiting from the Jamaican conditions, with an average ODI knock of 66, while skipper Brian Lara has struggled to an average of only 30. Both should be to the fore of the leading West Indies batsman market once it develops.

It is the extra experience of those home conditions that sees them a fairly strong 1.73 favourite to open their campaign with an opening victory, despite their recent lack of any positive form against Pakistan.

Inzamam's side won the five-match series in Pakistan 3-1 thanks to some fine bowling by the dangerous Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, and they also white-washed the West Indies the last time they played a one-day series in the Caribbean with a win in St Vincent and two in St Lucia.

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