'When we compete we've exposed we are on par with India'

West Indies cricket is on a downslide for a couple of decades now, and the Caribbean’s' winning something now comes crosswise as a surprise more often than not.

For the record, the West Indies have won just five Test matches in the last five years!

Not much was, therefore, probable from them when they landed in India for the three-Test series. Two matches later, they have expectedly lost the Test series and are staring at a first whitewash next to India in their history.

To his credit though, Darren Sammy was still able to find positives. The wry smile on his face is still whole even as he believes that the West Indies team is going forward contrary to what many would like to believe.

Asked what his first Test series as captain in the subcontinent has taught him, Sammy was categorical.

"I've been asked this question right from the time I stepped in India. I think it's my mental toughness," he said, before proceeding to elaborate his point.

"I'm leading a side that nobody expects to go out there and do well," he explained, adding, "Therefore, I was quite happy that while batting at Eden we scored the highest second-innings total by a West Indian team (463) following on.

"To get 400-plus in the second innings is good to see."

The captain was equally categorical about what his team lacks.

"We just have to be more consistent, especially with the bat," admitted Sammy.
"If we bat well in one innings, we don't do so in the second," he added, referring to the two innings of the second Test in Kolkata .

Sammy also went a step ahead and offered a solution, which he believes can ensure better results for the West Indies.

"Throughout the series, when we competed we've shown we are on par with India," he explained, adding, "I'd like to see a scenario where (Darren) Bravo, (Kirk) Edwards, (Devendra) Bishoo and (Kemar) Roach come good for us and be consistent.

"I'm looking forward to be part of that consistency."

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Pakistan pace man Wahab dropped for Bangladesh tour

Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz has been unnoticed for the squad touring Bangladesh after his name was mention in the spot-fixing trial in London at the start of November.

Chief selector Mohammad Illyas said Wahab had been drop for the tour after consultations between the selectors and team management.

"We have picked the best probable team," Illyas told a news meeting in Lahore on Monday.

Wahab was part of the teams that played a test series next to Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates last month but was then drop for the one-day series and sent home soon after his name was mention in the trial.

During the trial, an in secret reporter told the jury that Pakistani player agent Mazhar Majeed had told him he had several cricketers working for him and mention the names of Wahab and not needed wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

At the Southwark Crown Court on Nov. 1, Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were handed jail terms ranging from six to 30 months for taking bribe to fix parts of a test match during Pakistan's tour to England last year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was disinclined to comment on Wahab's keeping out but sources within the body long-established to Reuters that the bowler was sideline because his name was mention during the trial.

"The PCB has determined not to select any players whose names were linked to the spot-fixing trial," one source, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

Wahab's keeping out is a blow to the team after a string of good performances in domestic and international cricket since making his test first appearance at the Oval last year.

His exclusion forced selectors to make one change to the test squad that hit Sri Lanka, replacing Wahab with young pace man Mohammad Talha.

The selectors have retained the same one-day squad participates in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka in the Gulf.

"Bangladesh is always a formidable side at home and we didn't want to take risks. As it is the team is on a winning impetus and we want that to continue," Illyas added.

Pakistan will play two tests, three one-dayers and a Twenty20 international in Bangladesh from Nov. 26.

Test squad:

Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Adnan Akmal, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul.

One-day international squad:

Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal,, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul.

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