Intense heat will test Pakistan, West Indies in ODI series

Pakistan hosts the West Indies in the three-match limited-overs international series starting Wednesday. The temperature is expected to top 45 degrees Celsius (113 F) this week in Multan, and organizers have pushed back the starting time for games to 4 p.m. local time to offer some respite.

Players will be given ice collars and vests during stoppages in play, and extra water breaks to keep them hydrated. "We'll try to make the guys understand what they have to do personally to hydrate themselves properly both before, during and after the games," West Indies coach Phil Simmons said Tuesday. "The heat is going to be extreme, (but) Pakistan are playing in the heat, too, so it's going to be an even contest when we start the day.

How we deal with it before, during and after is going to help us a lot." The Pakistan Cricket Board relocated the series to Multan from Rawalpindi last week because of the uncertain political situation in the country. The opposition, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is planning rallies in the federal capital Islamabad, which is adjacent to Rawalpindi. West Indies are coming off a 3-0 series win over Netherlands last week at Amstelveen, where their top order scored prolifically.

Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope and Kyle Mayers scored centuries while Brandon King made 91 not out in the second game. The spinners -- Akeal Hosein and Hayden Walsh Jr -- took the bulk of the wickets, combining for 12. West Indies will be strengthened by the return of Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd, who both missed the series against the Netherlands because of visa issues.