Pakistan have been on a roll since their 2-2 series draw in England in August, which briefly lifted them to number one position in world cricket`s Test rankings for the first time.

Arch-rivals India relegated Pakistan to number two with recent victory over New Zealand but Misbah-ul-Haq`s men have a prime opportunity to close the gap in the three-match series against the West Indies and are strong favourites.

Pakistan captain Misbah said he was relishing the prospect of a day-night Test, where play will be from 3:30 pm to 10:30 pm (1130 GMT to 1830 GMT) with two breaks of 30 minutes, in what is nominally a “home” series for Pakistan.

“It`s exciting because I think the future belongs to day-night Tests,” said Misbah, whose team will be missing senior batsman Younis Khan, recovering from dengue fever.

Pakistan have included in-form batsman Babar Azam, 21, for his first Test after he racked up 360 runs during the one-day series against the West Indies.

But misfiring openers Mohammad Hafeez and Shan Masood have been axed from the squad which levelled the four-match Test series against England.

The West Indies, routed by Pakistan 3-0 in both Twenty20 and one-day series preceding the Tests, come in as clear underdogs.

Coach Phil Simmons, who guided them to the World Twenty20 title in April this year, was sacked prior to this tour after the team lost 2-0 to India in a four-match series in August.

But captain Jason Holder said the West Indies — down in eighth in the Test rankings — are ready to bounce back.

“We have some new faces in Tests so we will do our best,” said Holder.

Experts, however, see Pakistan`s spin duo of Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar proving too much for the spin-wary West Indian batsmen, especially in the unfamiliar day-night format with the pink ball and under lights. Australia staged the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last November — the first in Test cricket`s 140-year history.

The innovation has been brought in to address the dwindling crowds in Test cricket — floodlit matches encourage those at work during the day to attend — and has met with initial success.

The Adelaide Test attracted 123,000 spectators and an average television audience of two million.

But players from both sides complained about the pink ball’s movement and durability, as well as the difficulty batsmen faced seeing it under lights.

Pakistan have accumulated more experience than the West Indies under lights, adopting the coloured ball concept six years ago for the final of their domestic premier first-class tournament.

Pakistan have more than one reason to do well in Dubai — as well as grabbing a slice of Test history the match is their 400th Test since playing their first in India in 1952.

A win will not only cap a historic occasion but will also give Pakistan momentum for their pink-ball Tests in Australia in December.

The remaining two Tests against the West Indies will be in Abu Dhabi (October 21-25) and Sharjah (October 30-November 3).

Teams (from): Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan, Imran Khan

West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite (vice captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph, Marlon Samuels, Jomel Warrican

Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG) and Paul Reiffel (AUS) TV umpire: Ian Gould (ENG), Match referee: Jeff Corwe (NZL).

An unbroken (217) run stand for the third wicket between Younis Khan (101 n.o) and Shan Masood (114 n.o) renewed Pakistan’s hopes after being precariously placed at 13 for 2 in the third Test at Pallekele yesterday.

At stumps, Pakistan in pursuit of a victory target of 377 runs to win, was comfortably placed at 230 for 2 still needing 147 runs to win on the last day with plenty of batting to come.

Pakistan had a dreadful start, losing Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali, two of their top batsmen with just 13 runs on the board. Shehzad was bowled through the gate by Suranga Lakmal and Azhar Ali caught by Chandimal off Prasad. Younis Khan and Shan Masood provided the substance to the innings with the unfinished stand. Opener Shan Masood struck his maiden Test hundred hoisting Tharindu Kaushal for a six while Younis Khan reached his 30th Test hundred with a four to square leg.

With Khan and Masood together at the wicket at close of play and more top batsmen to follow the scales seem to be evenly balanced or one could say more on the Pakistan side unless something sensational happens this morning.

Experienced Younis Khan and Shan Masood, a good young player found nothing in the bowling to disturb them. They added 217 excellent runs for the third wicket. Khan and newcomer Masood were calm and unleashed some forceful shots manfully to hold the side together after the early loss of wickets.

When play began with Mathews 77 n.o and Chandimal 39 n.o with an overall lead of 291, the sixth wicket pair was in no mood to do anything extravagant but to build a substantial lead. Imran Khan and Yasir Shah was not bowling bad, but watchful batting helped them to build up the score. Chandimal had regained his confidence and reached his seventh Test fifty facing 76 deliveries with six fours while Mathews showed signs of aggression and was quick in pulling and hooking anything short. Chandimal looked a mature batsman throughout his innings and more an accomplished craftsman than he had looked in recent times. Mathews and Chandimal posted the 100 run stand in 132 minutes facing 188 deliveries.

In the morning, the Pakistani bowlers were unable to extract much from a four day old wicket. Spinner Yasir Shah had not been able to turn the ball enough for it to beat the bat. Mathews and Chandimal were going on relentlessly, but Pakistan would have known that they had to just get either Mathews or Chandimal to expose Sri Lanka’s brittle late middle order. The second new ball was available and Imran Khan did it by first unshipping Chandimal for 67. He produced a short blitz and struck double blows in the sixteenth over of the day, trapping Chandimal leg before and Dhammika Prasad caught behind in consecutive deliveries and was on a hat-trick as Sri Lanka’s chances of obtaining a 400-plus lead quickly receded.

Within the space of thirty three deliveries with the second new ball in the morning, Imran Khan took the last five wickets for 35 runs to give his first five wicket haul in Test cricket. Imran’s final tally was 5 for 58 in 20.4 overs. He should have got six wickets but Mishbah-Ul- Haq dropped Nuwan Pradeep in the slips.

Chandimal and Mathews added 117 runs for the sixth wicket while Mathews was approaching his century (99 n.o) . Mathews reached his fifth Test hundred in the company of Tharindu Kaushal who came at the fall of Chandimal’s wicket. Mathews running short of partners finally threw the towel in trying to cut Imran and was caught behind for 122 spending 400 minutes at the crease facing two hundred and fifty two deliveries with one six and a dozen fours.