West Indies vs Pakistan, 1st Test, Day 1, starts on July 25, 2026, at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, with play scheduled for 10:00 AM local time, 2:00 PM GMT, and 7:00 PM IST. This is the opening Test of the Pakistan tour of West Indies 2026, and it carries real weight because both teams are trying to set the tone for the series early.
The fixture is being played in Trinidad, and official listings point to Brian Lara Stadium as the venue and Saturday, July 25 as the start date.
Brian Lara Stadium has a history of producing low-scoring games in limited-overs cricket, with published ground data showing a modest average first-innings score and a strong toss factor at the venue. For a Test match, that usually translates into a surface that can start well for batters but gradually offer more help to seamers and spinners as the game progresses, especially if there is heat and wear on the pitch. July weather in Trinidad is typically hot and humid, and monthly forecast data for nearby Port of Spain shows highs around the upper 80s to low 90s Fahrenheit with warm nights, so stamina and workload management will matter.
This is the kind of Test that can shape the whole series, because the opening game often tells you which side has adapted faster to local conditions and pressure. Pakistan come into the contest with a stronger recent edge in the rivalry, but West Indies are at home and have enough pace to ask serious questions on a surface that may reward discipline and patience. A first-innings lead could be decisive here, so both captains will be thinking about how to bat long enough to control the match.
PAK vs WI Match details
Match: West Indies vs Pakistan, 1st Test
Date: July 25–29, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM local, 7:00 PM IST
Venue: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba
West Indies vs Pakistan Live Streaming Info
Here’s the live streaming info for West Indies vs Pakistan, 1st Test.
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India: FanCode app and website; no TV telecast listed.
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Pakistan: Tapmad and Tamasha.
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USA and Canada: Willow TV.
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UK: TNT Sports.
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Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport.
The match starts at 10:00 AM local time, which is 7:30 PM IST. The venue is Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, Trinidad.
Live Streaming Info:
The PAK vs WI Test match will be live on Willow Cricket.
Live Score Info:
West Indies vs Pakistan 2026: All matches on ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
Head-to-head record
Pakistan and West Indies have met in 56 Test matches, with Pakistan winning 22, West Indies winning 19, and 15 ending in draws. The most recent meetings were split: West Indies won the second Test in January 2025 by 120 runs, while Pakistan won the first Test in January 2025 by 127 runs. Before that, Pakistan beat West Indies by 109 runs in August 2021, while West Indies won the first Test of that 2021 series by 1 wicket.
Last five Test meetings:
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West Indies won by 120 runs, Jan 25, 2025
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Pakistan won by 127 runs, Jan 17, 2025
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Pakistan won by 109 runs, Aug 20, 2021
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West Indies won by 1 wicket, Aug 12, 2021
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Pakistan won by 101 runs, Dec 2021 is not listed in the fetched results, so I’m not adding it without verification.
West Indies team view
West Indies are led by Roston Chase, and their squad for this Test brings together experience, pace, and some dependable middle-order batting options. The biggest strength is the fast-bowling group, with Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, and Jayden Seales giving them genuine strike options. Their weakness is still consistency in the top order, because if the openers do not survive the first new ball, the middle order can be forced into recovery mode too early.
Key players:
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Roston Chase, for control and batting stability
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Shamar Joseph, for wicket-taking pac
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Jayden Seales, for discipline and movement
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Joshua Da Silva, for keeping and lower-middle-order runs
Recent momentum is mixed, but home conditions and an attack built for these pitches give West Indies a real chance if they bowl with control and stay patient with the bat.
Pakistan team view
Pakistan arrive with Babar Azam back at the center of their Test setup, and the squad also includes experienced names such as Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Abbas, Salman Ali Agha, Sajid Khan, Khurram Shahzad, and Mohammad Ali. Their main strength is batting depth and the ability to build long innings when the top order settles, which is vital in a Test that may demand runs the hard way. Their biggest concern is how well the bowling unit adapts if the pitch stays flat early and the ball doesn’t seam as much as expected.
Key players:
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Babar Azam, for class and tempo
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Mohammad Rizwan, for runs and composure
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Imam-ul-Haq, for opening stability
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Sajid Khan, for spin impact if the pitch slows down
Pakistan also come in with a slight psychological edge from recent head-to-head results, especially the January 2025 win in Multan. That said, Test cricket away from home often comes down to who handles the first session better, and that is where Pakistan must stay sharp.
Probable XIs
Probable XI: John Campbell, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales
Probable XI: Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Ali
Pakistan look slightly stronger on overall batting depth and recent results, while West Indies have the home conditions and the pace attack to make this very competitive. If the pitch plays true early and Pakistan’s top order bats long, they should have the edge; if the surface has enough live grass and carry for the home quicks, West Indies can flip the script quickly. My lean is Pakistan in a close Test, but only just, because Brian Lara Stadium and Trinidad conditions should keep West Indies in the contest for most of the match.