Brathwaite calls for confidence ahead of second Test

MULTAN, Pakistan (CMC):

West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite has urged his team to trust their plans and bring their best performance as they prepare for the second Test against Pakistan which bowls off here on Saturday.

Speaking ahead of the crucial match, Brathwaite emphasised the importance of confidence, preparation, and adapting to challenging conditions.

“Once we bring our performance in this game, I think we’ll do well. “We’ve got to put it together. Batting-wise we didn’t get as many runs as we would like. It was a difficult pitch last game, and we’ve got to make adjustments to steal this one.”

The first Test saw Pakistan’s spinners dominate on a cracking pitch that posed significant challenges for the visiting batters. Brathwaite noted that the Multan pitch appears similar to the one used in the first Test, with visible cracks that could favour spinners once again. He urged his players to remain composed under pressure.

“We don’t know how the pitch is going to play, but it looks quite similar. We’ve got to believe in ourselves and go out there to get the job done. The spinners got all the wickets last time, so the challenge is clear.”

“I think bowling-wise we’ll be consistent in bringing the batsmen forward as spinners. As batters, we want to bat for long periods. Once we do that and bring our own game together, I think that will put us in a good position.”

The captain highlighted the team’s productive training sessions, emphasising the importance of mindset and self-belief. The skipper also mentioned that they will be without pacer Jayden Seales who has a foot injury and has been replaced in the 12-man squad by Kemar Roach.

“The guys had some good sessions, which was good for us as a group. For me, the message to the boys is to believe in yourself, be brave, trust your plans, and execute them from ball one.”