LONDON, Jan 30: The West Indies face an awesome task in Sharjah, according to bookmakers bet365, Carl Hooper’s men are rank 8/1 outsiders, and 10/1 to take the series.

A 2-0 victory for the men from the Caribbean is priced at 25/1.

Pakistan, meanwhile, are 4/7 to win the first test and 3/10 to take the series.

Bet365 also offers a range of player bets for this historic series. Inzamam-ul-Haq is batting favourite, 3/1 to be the top Pakistan batsman in the first innings, and 5/1 favourite to be top batsman of either side throughout the series.

Rashid Latif, who is often resilient under pressure, is an outside bet at 18/1.

For the West Indies, it is skipper Carl Hooper (7/2) who tops the list, while the returning Chanderpaul is 3/1. Of the longer odds, Ridley Jacobs, so often architect of a West Indies recovery, is 10/1.

The bowling odds are dominated by the Pakistan attack.

Waqar Younis is 9/4 and Saqlain Mushtaq is 3/1 to be top Pakistan bowler in the first game. In the series betting, Saqlain changes places with his captain. Saqlain is 9/2 and Waqar 11/2. All-rounder Abdur Razzaq is keenly priced at 6/1.

Recalled Mervyn Dillon is the West Indies’ leading light, 9/1 to be the top bowler in the series and 5/2 in the first innings of the first test.