The West Indies cricket team toured Pakistan in April 2018 to play three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.[1] Pakistan won the series 3–0.[2] Following the conclusion of the series, Pakistan's captain Sarfaraz Ahmed said that "no team will be using security concerns as an excuse in the future. This year or the next year, (international) cricket will come back to Pakistan".[3] The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were hoping to play a full international series against a Full Member side in Pakistan by 2020.[4]
Originally, the fixtures were scheduled to be played in November 2017.[8][9] However, early in November 2017, reports announced that the West Indies team would not be travelling to Pakistan over security concerns.[10][11] The PCB chairman Najam Sethi stated that the original schedule was changed due to unforeseen weather, logistic issues and challenges with security.[12] In March 2018, the PCB confirmed that the fixtures would take place in April at the National Stadium in Karachi.[13][14][15] The last time an international cricket match was played at the venue in Karachi was in February 2009, when Sri Lanka toured Pakistan.[16] That series was cut short, following an attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore.[16]
Cricket West Indies (CWI) offered an extra pay incentive to players to tour Pakistan.[17] With only three days left before the tour started, the West Indies named a weakened squad to tour Pakistan.[18]Jason Mohammed was named as captain of the West Indies, as the regular T20I captain, Carlos Brathwaite did not travel because of security concerns.[19] Along with Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Chris Gayle and Devendra Bishoo did not make themselves available, also because of security concerns.[19]
Veerasammy Permaul injured himself during the first match and was ruled out of the West Indies squad for the remaining two fixtures. No replacement was named to replace him.[22]
