Previewing the First Match

The first match of the World Cup between Pakistan and West Indies is significant for many reasons other than being the opening match. Along with England these two form the triumvirate of the weak. If one of these can beat the other two and then record a win here and there, a no result due to rain, they might sneak through to the semifinals. The team that will lose this opening encounter may find very few other openings. Of course this all assumes that they will both make it out of their group.
England if it loses to NZ will still have some chances and if it wins it will enhance them. But the winner and loser of the West Indies-Pakistan tie have a lot to gain and lose.
The nature of the wicket (as long as it stays true for the duration) will not be a factor. Fast or slow, bouncy or low, help or hinder both teams similarly by the nature of their constituents.
The WI will be at home which could be a good thing or a bad thing. How they respond will be a window into the rest of their campaign.
For Pakistan there will be no such window because of their unpredictability. The cornered tigers thing is getting a bit old though. This team is very different in its mood and character than the one for which that label was created. They like to play from a position of strength and once they fall behind the heart is lacking.
Who will win? Too close to call. That does not necessarily mean that the scoreline will be close just that their unpridictability is.