THE West Indies cricket team arrived in Abu Dhabi yesterday with one goal in mind.

Get the better of Pakistan in the three One-Day Internationals and take home the Fortune Trophy.

It will be the first time for the Windies at the 17 000-seater Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium and they will be looking to make a huge impression. Captain Chris Gayle spoke at the official series launch and unveiling of the Fortune Trophy at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club. He expressed confidence that his players will do all - individually and as a team - to improve their positions on the International Cricket Council's rankings.

"We believe we can do well against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. This is our first time (here) and the team is eager to do well on foreign soil. We believe this could be the start of a very good away tour. Pakistan are a good cricket team and it will be a challenge for us, but we will be fighting hard against them all the way," he said.

Younger players

The 29-year-old Gayle, whose powerful batting is expected to be a boost at the top of the order, also indicated that in addition to himself and the experienced players — Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul — this series is a great opportunity for some of the younger players to establish themselves on the team and in international cricket.

Team manager Omar Khan indicated that the team settled in well.

"The players have settled very well and we are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming matches. This is a major opportunity and the players are aware of what is required," Khan said.

The day/night matches will be played on: Wednesday, November 12; Friday, November 14 and Sunday, November 16 and bowl off at 3 pm (7 a.m. Eastern Caribbean Time/6 a.m. Jamaica Time).

West Indies squad: Chris Gayle (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice captain), Lionel Baker, Carlton Baugh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Shawn Findlay, Leon Johnson, Xavier Marshall, Nikita Miller, Dave Mohammed, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor.