Pakistan have once again made their way to the Caribbean, a set of islands that never fail to inspire feelings of joy and relaxation. But many a time, these wonderful traits have been a source of criticism for their cricket team, with the West Indies’ infamous 60s label as “calypso cricketers” a prime example. A team brooding with talent, with Frank Worrell and Gary Sobers to show for it, they were seen more as entertainers than sportsmen.

The team of the 80s, built on aggressiveness, revenge, and the calm captaincy of Clive Lloyd, instilled a strict work ethic and winning mentality to the side. However, West Indies’ entertaining and joyful style has never escaped them, as we saw with Gayle and co. dancing endlessly to Gangnam Style during their victorious World T20 campaign in 2012. The cricketers born on the beach love the game, but, like anything on the beach, there’s always an element of fun involved!

Their opponents, a menacingly bipolar Pakistan, also have a unique absurdity that historically, has made them impossible to predict. They have always had a knack for doing the unthinkable, in both victory and defeat. From Sarfraz Nawaz’s reverse swing, perfected by Waqar Younis, to Saqlain Mushtaq’s invention of the doosra, used in all its splendour by Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan have always been creative and innovative in their artistry.

Despite the prevalent passion for cricket, Pakistan does not have the institutions and facilities that are available in developed countries. While players like Stuart Broad and Peter Siddle are great in their own right having been coached from a very early age, Pakistan’s bowlers have a certain wizardry that only comes from the creative notions of a child’s mind. Hours of playing on the street, and the guts to do something different, means Pakistan may not always be successful, but they’ll never fail to disappoint on TV.

5th ODI: Georgetown, Guyana, 1993

On April 3rd 1993, when West Indies left the field against Pakistan in Georgetown, they believed they were victorious. With two runs required of the last ball, Ian Bishop pushed the ball to deep mid-on. As Bishop and Man-of-the-Match Carl Hooper began to run the first, thousands of spectators stormed onto the ground in a pitch invasion quite common in the 90s. Wasim Akram, the bowler, upon receiving the ball, dropped it, perhaps distracted by the chaos ensuing on the field.

The match finished with the scores level, and while West Indies felt they won because of a superior wickets tally, ICC referee Subba Row intervened to declare a tie. After a see-sawing encounter, the series concluded at a thrilling 2-2.

Pakistan got the bulk of their 244 runs during the first seven overs and the last 17 in this match. In between, they lost momentum and wickets against the keen bowling by Curtley Ambrose, Carl Hooper and Anderson Cummins. In the second innings, the early dismissal of Brian Lara gave Pakistan a firm grip on the match until Richie Richardson came in to smash a quick fire 37-ball 41. After his dismissal, well set opener Desmond Haynes helped Hooper take West Indies within 22 runs of their target. Then, out of nowhere, two wickets fell in successive overs, leaving 11 needed from the last.

This topsy-turvy tie was in many ways representative of the two teams’ cricketing philosophy throughout history. Everyone loves the match up. The two most unpredictable teams, they battle with flair, fearlessness, and a nonchalant aggressiveness that has left both under severe scrutiny by the more precocious British and Australian analysts of the game. A five-match series can see both a 300 plus thriller where the bowlers are spanked all over the park and a low scoring nail-biter where Kemar Roach suddenly looks like Malcolm Marshall, obliterating Pakistan’s brittle line up.

1st Final: Bridgetown, Barbados, 2000

Barbados was the venue for a tense, low-scoring game in April 2000. After winning the toss and batting first, only Inzamam-ul-Haq, in a commanding 86-ball 66, broke free for Pakistan against the disciplined home attack. However, his 49-run stand with Younis Khan took up 18 overs, and wickets fell when Pakistan tried to accelerate. West Indies were in control at 144 for eight before Wasim Akram coolly smashed 42 off 36 balls: the last two overs costing 28. Wasim and Waqar Younis, in typically devastating fashion, then stalled Windies’ reply, which cautiously laboured to 21 for one in 12 overs. A second-wicket stand of 86, albeit at snail’s pace, pushed West Indies towards the meagre Pakistan score. But just when the match became predictable, both sides surprised supporters as West Indies imploded, losing 5 wickets for 24 runs. Pakistan ended up restricting them to 180, winning by 17 runs.

Pakistan’s knack of defending low scores comes with their endless self-belief in their bowling attack. The dry pitches that perhaps do not give their batsmen the best preparation for foreign grounds and force bowlers to invent new ways of dismissing opponents, be it through pace or spin. Pakistan may not always probe the off-stump line and length to get wickets, leading to an element of erratic-ness, but after seeing a bouncer from Shoaib Akhtar, or a banana ball by Waqar Younis, no one can criticize the tactics they deploy.

3rd ODI: Gros Islet, St. Lucia, 2005

Two men that have come to embody their team’s philosophy, that are too impulsive to bet on, but too dangerous to bet against on the night, are Chris Gayle and Shahid Afridi. Both experienced in the international circuit, Afridi and Gayle have already had blistering experiences as opponents in the Caribbean.

In what was claimed to be the best match of the 2005 bilateral series, West Indies closed in on a daunting target of over 304 courtesy of Gayle's 11th one-day hundred, only to falter again and suffer a whitewash. Shahid Afridi set the tone for the run-feast, belting 56 off 30 balls, with the rest of Pakistan’s batsmen supporting him in equal measure. The innings lost momentum in the last ten overs, but, crucially, Kamran Akmal smashed the last three deliveries of the innings for consecutive sixes. In response, Gayle and Wavell Hinds set West Indies on course before Abdul Razzaq struck with the first of his four wickets. But it was Gayle's inability to carry on to the very end that proved critical. After he was caught at cover in the 46th over, Pakistan swept up Windies’ vulnerable tail, winning by 22 runs.

What’s in store?

West Indies’ 14-10 superior home record against Pakistan can primarily be credited to their brilliant team of the late 80s and early 90s. Since the thrilling battle of April 2000, Pakistan have had an 8-4 advantage against their West Indian counterparts on Caribbean soil. The following series may no longer have players of the calibre of Ambrose, Inzamam, Akram, or Lara, but one thing's for sure: whatever the situation, wherever the match is poised, never overestimate the power of unpredictability, and never doubt the either sides’ talent.

A two wicket win for West Indies in the recently concluded Champions Trophy against Pakistan was a symbolic of both team’s ability. Mystery spinners Sunil Narine and Saeed Ajmal both had exemplary performances, Ajmal’s battle with Chris Gayle, having dismissed him with a doosra at the Oval, will be pivotal.

How will West Indies cope with seven footer Mohammad Irfan? Will the return Umar Akmal add much needed bite to Pakistan’s middle order? Or will the reinvented bowling of Dwayne Bravo get the better of him? More importantly, will the biggest six of the tour be hit by Shahid Afridi or Kieron Pollard? Or perhaps by a lethargic Misbah-ul-Haq after forty overs of front foot defense. Whatever happens, as world’s greatest entertainers go head to head from July 14, there should be no shortage of drama and flair.