Looks like the Pakistan-West Indies cricket series might be in trouble. There is a bit of trouble going on between the two boards about what kind of matches should be played.
The PCB wants to switch the three ODIs that were planned into T20 games instead — probably to gear up for next year’s T20 World Cup. But the West Indies board does not seem too keen on that idea.
Pakistan-West Indies series in doubt amid format disagreement
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) July 17, 2025
Read more: https://t.co/Cv5wY4JtOP#PakistanCricket #WestIndiesCricket #PCB #CWI #PakvsWI pic.twitter.com/OpA6quyeEm
Right now, the plan is for Pakistan to play three T20s in Lauderhill, Florida on August 1st, 3rd, and 4th, and then move to Tarouba, Trinidad for three ODIs on August 8th, 10th, and 12th. But with this format clash, the whole schedule is a bit up in the air.
Sources from PCB confirmed that they officially requested this change to prepare better for the T20 World Cup next year. But CWI has neither responded nor shown any willingness to accept the proposal.
Why West Indies Does Not Agree
People inside the West Indies camp feel they have got a better shot at beating Pakistan in ODIs rather than T20s — and for them, that could make a big difference in the rankings.
Pakistan’s currently ranked 4th, while West Indies are way down at 9th, and that’s not a small gap. That’s important because only the top eight teams, plus hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, get a free pass to the 2027 World Cup — everyone else has to fight their way in through qualifiers.
For the West Indies, it is a sensitive subject. Once the kings of one-day cricket, they missed out on the 2023 World Cup altogether. In 2019, they only made it in through the play-offs. This, for a team that won the first two ODI World Cups in 1975 and 1979, and made it to the final again in 1983 — it has been a sharp fall.
That is why their cricket board sees this series as a chance.
A showdown with a top-tier side like Pakistan could be just what the West Indies need right now. Even a couple of wins in the ODIs might give their ranking — and their shot at the 2027 World Cup — a solid boost. But at the moment, the tour hangs in the balance. It’s still uncertain whether things will move forward as planned or if the format disagreement could lead to major changes — or even a cancellation.
The West Indies might just need a challenge like Pakistan to turn things around. A couple of wins in the upcoming ODIs could give their rankings — and their 2027 World Cup hopes — a much-needed lift. Still, there’s some uncertainty. It’s not clear whether the tour will go ahead as planned or if the format disagreement will cause changes, or worse, a cancellation.
Also read this: History of Pakistan’s World Cup Wins – A Journey of Glory
