West Indies linchpin Darren Sammy has been cleared to play in their pivotal World Cup match against Pakistan in Christchurch on Saturday.

Sammy has been hampered by a back strain since their first loss to Ireland.

‘We should have a full complement to choose from,’ captain Jason Holder declared on the eve of the match between two sides fighting to get points on the board in Pool B after suffering first-up losses.

The West Indies suffered a surprise four-wicket loss to Ireland in their opening World Cup encounter, while Pakistan were outclassed by more formidable opposition in India.

Despite being beaten by one of the minor teams, Holder said his team remained upbeat in their belief they will be one of the four teams from Pool B to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The pool also includes South Africa as well as Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates.

‘We can’t let our defeats get us down. Obviously we lost a game against Ireland. It was a tough loss, but if we get ourselves down it’s hard to pick ourselves up so we are trying to keep the mood going,’ Holder said.

BAILEY MAKES WAY FOR CLARKE

George Bailey is strongly tipped to be omitted on Saturday against Bangladesh, as he himself has acknowledged, and if his role at Australian training was any indication, he has already been told, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

He spent the session catching throws from Australia’s fast bowlers as assistant coach Craig McDermott, with bat in hand, gave them practice under the high ball on the boundary.

On the other side of the field Australia’s other batsmen, Clarke included, were being taken through drills more appropriate to the positions they occupy in the field, picking up and firing at a plastic stump.

Bailey was a notable absentee but, true team man that he is, there was no dragging of the heels on a moist Gabba, which spent the day with the covers on its wicket square as Brisbane braced for an onslaught of wild weather.

ICC CLARIFY RAIN-HIT BRISBANE SITUATION

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 organisers are working closely with authorities in Queensland regarding Saturday’s match between Australia and Bangladesh given the extreme weather situation in the State and the forecasts for ongoing rain in Brisbane.

However as there is no reserve day for pool matches, the ICC said they will continue to prepare in the hope that the match can go ahead.  The ICC match officials will make a decision on the match on Saturday based on conditions at the time.

The match can still go ahead with a delayed start if necessary. A match can be successfully completed if each side has minimum of 20 overs which means that it is still possible to achieve a result with a start after the scheduled innings break.