Pakistan hope rain holds off; Windies enter fray

Group rivals India have already beaten Kenya by 98 runs and Pakistan will be eager to better their run rate against the Africans in case the clash between the big two next Sunday is washed out.

Pakistan will hope they finally start their Champions Trophy campaign on Wednesday after their match with Kenya was put back from on Tuesday because of rain while West Indies make their scheduled bow in the tournament.

HT Image

Group rivals India have already beaten Kenya by 98 runs and Pakistan will be eager to better their run rate against the African underdogs just in case the clash between the big two in Group C next Sunday is washed out.

Any further rain at Edgbaston could deprive them of the chance, however, and could see them facing India with no match practice in the tournament.

Pakistan lost twice to Australia in warm-up matches but captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was still encouraged by what he saw.

"The team performed not that bad overall," he said. "The main thing is finishing. We are not playing 50 overs."

West Indies come into their tournament opener with Bangladesh at Southampton on the back of some dreadful Test form, although they have performed much better in the shorter version of the game.