By Imran Yousafzai
There was a time when the West Indies cricket team — famously dubbed the “Calypso Kings” or “Men in Maroon” — struck fear into opponents around the globe. Their towering fast bowlers were a nightmare for batsmen, and even the finest players would tremble at the crease. In the 1970s and 1980s, defeating the West Indies was considered equivalent to winning a World Cup. In fact, it is often said that the very use of helmets in cricket began as a response to the ferocity of West Indian pace bowling.
When it comes to One-Day Internationals (ODIs) between Pakistan and the West Indies, the two sides have faced each other 136 times in total. The West Indies lead the head-to-head with 71 victories, while Pakistan have won 63 matches; three encounters ended without a result. However, in bilateral ODI series, Pakistan hold the edge. Out of 18 series contested so far, Pakistan have won 11, the West Indies six, and one series ended in a draw.
The first ODI meeting between the two teams took place during the 1975 World Cup, with Majid Khan captaining Pakistan and Clive Lloyd leading the West Indies. Pakistan fought valiantly, forcing the West Indies to dig deep for a one-wicket victory. Sarfraz Nawaz took 4 for 44, while Majid Khan (60), Wasim Raja (58), and Mushtaq Mohammad (55) shone with the bat. Zaheer Abbas scored 31 and a young Javed Miandad contributed 24 runs. The West Indies eventually chased the target in 59.4 overs (ODIs were 60 overs per side back then). Notably, Miandad not only made his ODI debut in that match but also claimed a wicket — one of several memorable footnotes from the game.
In the same World Cup, Pakistan lost to Australia but convincingly defeated Sri Lanka, amassing 330 in 60 overs, thanks to Sarfraz Nawaz’s brilliant 97, Majid Khan’s 84, and Sadiq Mohammad’s 74. The bowlers then bundled out Sri Lanka for just 138, securing a 192-run victory. Imran Khan took three wickets, while Miandad and Sadiq claimed two each.
The first bilateral ODI series between Pakistan and the West Indies took place in 1976 in the Caribbean, with the hosts winning the single-match series 1–0. The West Indies then went on to dominate in subsequent series: 3–0 in 1980, 3–2 in 1985, 4–1 in 1986, and 5–0 in 1987. Pakistan’s breakthrough came in 1990 when, under Imran Khan’s leadership, they whitewashed the West Indies 3–0 at home — their first-ever ODI series win over the Caribbean side.
In 1991, the West Indies avenged that defeat by winning 2–0 in Pakistan, but that remains their last ODI series victory over the Green Shirts. Since a drawn 2–2 series in the Caribbean in 1992, Pakistan have remained unbeaten in ODI series against the West Indies for 34 years, triumphing at home, away, and on neutral venues. The last ODI series between the two sides was in 2022, when Pakistan swept the West Indies 3–0 at home.
Now in 2025, Pakistan are touring the Caribbean. Under Agha Salman’s captaincy, they claimed the T20I series 2–1. In the ongoing ODI series, led by Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan won the first match but lost the second, leaving the contest level at 1–1. The decisive third ODI on August 12 will determine whether Pakistan’s 34-year unbeaten streak in ODI series against the West Indies continues — or if the Caribbean side finally ends their long wait for a series victory.
