West Indies head coach Andre Coley is urging his players to apply themselves and capitalise on early opportunities against Pakistan in their two-match Test series, regardless of the conditions they face.

The first Test begins in Multan on Friday.

Though confident in the team’s readiness, Coley highlighted the significance of adapting to the situation to gain and maintain control throughout the series.

“What you want to do is, whatever surface you’re given, you want to bring a certain level of application that is required,” Coley said during a press conference on Wednesday.

“Our aim here in this series is to actually prepare in a manner, based on the squad that Pakistan has selected, so we’re in a position to negotiate and gain control of the game early and maintain that control,” he added.

With Pakistan’s pitches often favouring spin, the hosts have included spinners Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, and Abrar Ahmed in their squad for this series.

However, Coley believes the West Indies squad is balanced and versatile enough to handle varying conditions.

“We have a clear plan in our mind. As you look at the makeup of our squad, it gives us the option to go either way, so we have that flexibility in the squad,” Coley noted.

This tour marks the West Indies’ first Test series in Pakistan since 2006, and Coley acknowledged that the environment would be unfamiliar for most of the players.

Still, he stressed the need for self-belief and preparation in navigating these challenges, especially with this being the Caribbean side’s final assignment in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle.

While they are out of contention for the final, Coley, who will also end his tenure after this tour, believes a strong performance against Pakistan could serve as a significant boost for the team’s morale and development.

“In a new environment for most of the players, it’s about being able to back themselves, trust the preparation, and keep learning quickly,” Coley stated.