Lara's absence makes Pakistan hot favourites for ODI Series

It's hard to think how much further the pitiful West Indies can fall after being whitewashed 5-0 by South Africa in the recent one-day series. Lack of discipline, application and fight cost them dear and, with their morale at an all-time low, they would probably like to just hide themselves away for a while.

But unfortunately, that's not possible: just four days after that series ended, West Indies will face a buoyant Pakistan at St Vincent on Wednesday, in the first of three one-dayers. A two-Test series will follow. It's hectic stuff.

Pakistan are understandable favourites for the one-day series, after their outstanding come-from-behind series win in India where youth and experience blended perfectly. And, with Brian Lara rested for West Indies, Pakistan's position as 2/5 (1.40) favourites has been further cemented. West Indies can be backed at a generous 7/4 (2.75).

Traditionally a talented but unpredictable team, Pakistan have plenty of firepower and, under the guidance of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and the former South Africa coach Bob Woolmer, they are getting it right. Woolmer, though, has talked up the dangers that West Indies present, and they should not be written off entirely; when the mood takes them, they can play good one-day cricket.

Pakistan are as short as 1/2 (1.5) to win in St Vincent, while West Indies are 6/4 (2.5). However, Pakistan backers should be wary of lumping on them for victory first time out: they will go into the game after just one warm-up match, and it always takes time to adjust to West Indian conditions.

Also, with the strike bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami out injured, Pakistan will have to rely largely on their slow bowlers. If Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul - great players of spin - get going after poor efforts against South Africa, then 6-5 on West Indies to win the opener could be a generous price by Wednesday night.

And the hosts will be boosted by their outstanding record in St Vincent. In the 15 one-day internationals to be staged there, the hosts have lost just once, and they have had 13 victories on the bounce.

Player Markets
As this is a relatively low-scoring venue - in the last eight matches only four teams batting first have passed 200 - a bowler could be a good candidate for Man of the Match. Shahid Afridi is 7/1 (8.0), slightly ahead of batsmen Chris Gayle and Inzamam - both 8/1 (9.00). Of the longer-priced players, Abdul Razzaq is certainly worth considering at 12/1 (13.0), while West Indies may struggle against Pakistan's new spearhead Naved-ul-Hasan 14/1 (15.00). Naved, the Man of the Series against India, took 15 wickets at 16.4 in the one-dayers, and is definitely a player to watch in the Caribbean.

The batting markets are still worth a look. Gayle blew hot and cold in the one-dayers against South Africa and yet he tops the series markets for the top West Indies batsman at 5/2 (3.50). But Chanderpaul at 3/1 (4.00) has more appeal, for his recent run of one-day form is excellent - he averages 57.75 in his last 10 ODI matches. Predictably enough, Inzamam is favourite to be the top Pakistan batsman, at 4/1 (5.00), while the dangerous Shahid Afridi is 9/2 (5.50).