West Indies' Ian Bradshaw celebrates after taking the wicket of India's Yuvraj Singh during the recent ICC Champions Trophy tournament. - Reuters

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

West Indies fast bowler Ian Bradshaw sees the one-day international (ODI) series against Pakistan as critical to World Cup 2007 preparations.

"I think that we're in the process of building towards the World Cup, we've made significant strides in the last 12 months and this series is going to be critical in our continued quest to become one of the top teams in the world," the left armer said from the team hotel in Islamabad after the first ODI was abandoned due to persistent rain.

"Naturally, we would have loved as many opportunities as possible to play and improve. However, circumstances such as the weather are beyond our control and we will just look forward to the remaining few matches," the third-ranked ODI bowler reasoned

Adaptation was his clear watchword for the series when asked to shed light on his personal goals.

"To be able to adapt as quickly as a possible to foreign conditions is the test of any professional sportsman - to be able to perform in unfamiliar territory," said Bradshaw who is one of three players to join the squad for the ODI tournament.

"It's critical that we show that despite losing two of our key players - Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo - that we can overcome Pakistan because they are one of the top one-day teams in the world and difficult to beat at home," Bradshaw said.

"A victory here in Pakistan will go far in enhancing our credibility," he projected.