'Adapt and overcome' – Windies Women carry motto to Pakistan

Excitement is high in the squad led by stand-in captain Merissa Aguilleira, with the players keen to do their bit to bring cricket back to Pakistan.

"I'm pleased we can bring back cricket to Pakistan," the experienced Aguilleira said. "Because it's really important. If we find ourselves in this position, I believe one of the teams would step up and try to help us."

The team have been in Dubai, practising for the conditions they can expect in Karachi, and will have a quick turnaround after they land in the city before the first match on Thursday. But the foreign conditions is not something they are spending much time being concerned about.

"We have a motto, two words our coach has given us: adapt and overcome. That is what we are trying to do," said the captain. "It is really difficult adapting in such quick time, but we are professional cricketers and we are willing and raring to go. We are excited for this tour."

The series takes on added significance with the announcement on Tuesday that Pakistan and the Windies are drawn in the same half of the tournament for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia. There is still a year to go for the event, but Windies, champions in 2016 and semi-finalists in the 2018 edition at home, see the games as an opportunity to get to know a fierce competitor.

Urging her team to stay focussed, Aguilleira said, "It's important to take [all] information we can away from Pakistan because they're a growing team and developing very well."

The opening game will be followed by matches on 1 and 3 February.