[VIDEO] Pakistan vs West Indies highlights: 2015 Cricket World Cup live scores, blog

It’s a battle for form in Christchurch, as Pakistan and the West Indies face off in a clash following first-up losses in Match 10 of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:45am AEDT.

In times of yore, a clash between these two historic giants of world cricket would have generated far more interest. Indeed, three out of the 10 previous World Cups have been won by Pakistan and the West Indies combined.

Those times have past now, as both sides look aimlessly towards a potentially bleak future. For Pakistan, that future has been here since 2009. Pakistan has become the wandering nomads of world cricket, where once visits from and trips to the country used to herald headline attention. Now, Pakistani cricket is a mere footnote to the events of the other side of the Wagah border. Their first up loss to India, the sixth in six contents in World Cups, underlined this fact.

But while you can make a case of positive intrigue and mystery for Pakistan, spare any delusions about the state of West Indies cricket. Using the term “nation” is factually incorrect, while “team” pays them far too much credit – such is the shambles surrounding what once was the behemoth of world cricket.

Losing to Ireland can no longer be termed a shock, at least not on the part of the Irish. For the West Indies, the loss can be deemed as an accurate statement of health marking the degenerative decline of cricket that has embodied the Caribbean islands. You can’t mark it down simply to the lack of playing resources, although dropping Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard on tournament eve isn’t helpful. Neither can you entirely blame a West Indies Cricket Board determined not to succumb to the ever-increasing strength of player power.

Yet, both factors have managed to see West Indies for what it is today – a Test team that looks ripe low-hanging fruit in an increasingly open Group B. It wasn’t just losing to Ireland, it was the distinct lack of effort to defend the 304 that speaks volumes on the current disrepair of West Indies cricket.

For Waqar Younis and Pakistan, two changes may surely be imminent following the mentally jarring loss to India. The decision to open with veteran Younus Khan backfired, as did opting for the reserve keeper Umar Akmal ahead of the regular Sarfraz Ahmed. While the team’s poor batting display against India may see the retention of both, the one likely change will be the restoration of Sarfraz ahead of the middle order player Sohaib Maqsood. This may see Younus drop down to the middle order, while Umar is free to bat without distraction.

The bowling effort from the Pakistanis was well lead by Sohail Khan in Adelaide, but besting the West Indies will require more from their leg-spinning duo of Yasir Shah and Shahid Afridi. Pakistan will likely bring on their spinners early to deny any pace from the Hagley Oval pitch.

The challenge for the West Indies is working out if any change in personnel can inspire a change in attitude. Attempting to blast out the Irish with a four-pronged pace attack didn’t work, and as such, a return for left arm spinner Sulieman Benn is likely. Men to make way could either by the quick Kemar Roach, or batting allrounder Dwayne Smith. Meanwhile, the West Indies desperately require one or both of Chris Gayle or Darren Bravo to fire.

Even after one game each, this clash is amounting to a possible do-or-die encounter. With both of Zimbabwe and Ireland arguably in better form than these two, a loss here can amount to real fears of early elimination. Even during their loss against India, Pakistan showed signs they can be a handful, while the West Indies have enough problems handling themselves.

Expect Pakistan to win this comfortably, spearheaded by their quick bowlers on a juicy Hagley Oval.