Pakistan have their backs against the wall. Something went wrong in Tarouba and now a key player is missing. The series is on the line. And the venue that awaits them on August 2 has a history that does not favour the faint-hearted. Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain has seen battles. This is about to become one of them. Checkout Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd Test Preview.
Match Overview
The second and final Test starts August 2 at Queen’s Park Oval. Play begins at 10:00 AM local time daily. That is 7:30 PM IST for Pakistan fans. West Indies lead the series 1-0. Pakistan must win or the series is lost.
The visitors need a victory to level the series and secure vital World Test Championship points. This match directly impacts both teams’ WTC standings. Losing would be a significant blow to Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the WTC Final.
Shan Masood Out With a Fractured Finger
Pakistan go into this match without their best performer from the first Test. Shan Masood fractured his left index finger at Tarouba. He took a Jayden Seales delivery on the hand in the first innings. He somehow batted on to score 109 despite the pain.
The fracture was confirmed after medical scans in Trinidad. Masood will not play in Port of Spain. His availability for the England series starting August 19 is also in serious doubt. Pakistan’s most reliable red-ball batter is out. That is a major problem.
Who Replaces Masood?
Questions have been raised about who replaces Masood and whether Ubaid Shah will get a go. Three replacement options are available to the Pakistan management.
Abdullah Shafique is the most experienced. He has 20 Test caps and opens the batting. He was added to the tour squad ahead of this series after Abdullah Fazal suffered a back injury. His recall is well-timed.
Saud Shakeel is another option. He averages above 55 in Tests. His technique is excellent. He provides genuine quality in the middle order. However, his fitness is also being managed carefully on this tour.
Uncapped Muhammad Awais Zafar remains a wildcard option. Giving a debut in a must-win Test is bold. Pakistan’s selectors will need to make a call quickly before the match begins.
Pakistan Probable XI: Imam-ul-Haq, Azan Awais or Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Abbas.
Babar Azam Must Lead From the Front
Babar was unbeaten on 58 in the fourth innings at Tarouba. He was the last man standing. His batting in the first innings was modest but he showed real class when the pressure was highest. Port of Spain needs more of that.
Pakistan were stung by the second-innings syndrome yet again in Tarouba. Their batting collapses in fourth innings have become a pattern. Babar knows that better than anyone. His captaincy record shows he can turn situations around, a story documented in full in our piece on Babar Azam’s captaincy records and seven biggest achievements. PakPassion.net
West Indies Squad and What Makes Them So Dangerous
Roston Chase said West Indies have been putting in some extra hard work recently. His team arrives at Queen’s Park Oval with confidence from Tarouba. Justin Greaves took five wickets with the ball there. Jayden Seales destroyed Pakistan’s fourth innings with 5 for 20. Kemar Roach provided control throughout.
West Indies Probable XI: Brandon King, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva, Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales, Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph.
The pace trio of Seales, Greaves, and Shamar Joseph is one of the most feared in current Caribbean cricket. Each bowler offers something different. The collective impact is devastating. Facing that attack at Queen’s Park Oval, without Masood, is a serious challenge for Pakistan’s top order.
Queen’s Park Oval Pitch Report
Pitch conditions at Queen’s Park Oval typically offer early bounce for fast bowlers. The surface then turns into something that rewards patient batters and spinners later. This is a ground that tends to produce competitive Test matches.
Teams batting first here have generally performed better. Winning the toss and batting is likely to be the preferred option. Pakistan’s spinners, Sajid Khan in particular, could be very effective in the third and fourth innings if Pakistan set a decent first innings total.
Weather Forecast Across Five Days
The weather forecast for Port of Spain is concerning. Day 1 on August 2 shows a 65 percent chance of rain. Day 2 shows 50 percent. Day 3 drops to 35 percent. Day 4 rises to 50 percent again. Day 5 shows only 20 percent.
Rain is likely at some stage across this Test. Multiple interruptions are possible. Pakistan need five days of play to have a genuine chance of winning. Rain stealing sessions could be just as damaging as dropped catches.
Head to Head in Tests at Port of Spain
Pakistan and West Indies have shared some compelling recent history. West Indies won the first Test of this series by 90 runs. West Indies also won by 120 runs in their last meeting in January 2025. Before that, Pakistan won two consecutive Tests against West Indies.
The recent head-to-head has been tight. But the away record for Pakistan in the Caribbean remains a real concern. Losing this Test would extend Pakistan’s away losing streak to nine matches. That is a record nobody at the PCB wants to own.
What Pakistan Must Do Differently
The first Test showed Pakistan’s two biggest problems very clearly. Their batting collapses under pressure in fourth innings and their inability to hold catches in the field. Those two issues directly cost them the match in Tarouba.
Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad were both handed demerit points for aggressive celebrations during the first Test. The team needs to channel that fighting spirit into performance rather than theatrics. West Indies have historically produced some of the fiercest competitive cricketers the game has ever seen, a tradition explored in our piece on the best cricket players in West Indies cricket history. ESPNcricinfo
Win Prediction
Pakistan are the underdogs here. They are missing their best batter. West Indies have home advantage. The weather may deny them a full five days. But Pakistan do have enough quality to win if their top order fires.
Imam-ul-Haq needs another fifty-plus score. Babar must convert a start into a century. Mohammad Abbas must repeat his first innings quality. If all three happen, Pakistan can win.
Pakistan win probability: 35 percent
West Indies win probability: 45 percent
Draw probability: 20 percent
Conclusion
Pakistan arrive at Queen’s Park Oval needing everything to go right. They need no rain. They need their replacement batter to settle quickly. They need Babar to score a century. They need their bowlers to dismiss West Indies twice. They need to catch their catches. That is a lot to ask. But this Pakistan side has surprised people before. August 2 at Port of Spain is their last chance to make sure this tour does not end in a series defeat.
