Pakistan look to cash in on super sub rule in second one-dayer by AFP

---

Event:

England in Pakistan 2005/06

---

DateLine: 11th December 2005

 

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said the super sub rule benefits teams winning the toss and his side would like to cash in on it in the second day-night one-day match against England on Monday.

 

"The super sub advantage lies with the team that wins the toss. Had we won the toss we could have utilized our super sub had we bowled second, so we would like a better use of it next time," Inzamam said on Sunday.

 

Pakistan named off-spinner Arhsad Khan as their super sub in the first of five one-day internationals on Saturday but could not use him at any stage during their 42-run defeat.

 

England compiled their highest one-day score against Pakistan in Pakistan - 327-4 in 50 overs - before reducing the home side to 285 all out in 46.5 overs.

 

The super sub rule - implemented in May this year - allows teams a soccer-style replacement at any stage in a limited overs international.

 

The replaced player will be ruled out of the rest of the match while the replacement will be entitled to assume any remaining batting or bowling duties.

 

England benefitted from the rule as they replaced Kevin Pietersen, who scored a brisk 36-ball 56, with debutante paceman Liam Plunkett who took 3-51.

 

Inzamam said Pakistan conceded 30 extra runs.

 

"Toss did not make difference. The main thing was that we allowed England to put a stiff target and chasing 328 was not easy even on a batting wicket," said Inzamam.

 

Four Pakistan batsmen hit half-centuries but none went on to finish the match.

 

"At one stage we were looking to chase those runs when Salam Butt and Younis Khan were playing and average was going good, but I think England bowled well after that," said Inzamam.

 

Butt and Younis put on 117 for the second wicket after Pakistan lost opener Kamran Akmal in the second over.

 

But once Butt (67) and Younis (60) were dismissed the required run-rate crept up and even Mohammad Yousuf (59) and Shoaib Malik (50) couldn't pose problems for England.

 

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who hit an unbeaten 72 in England innings, chipped in with three wickets as Pakistan lost their last six wickets in the space of just 18 balls.

 

Andrew Strauss, who won the man-of-the-match award for his 94, said the win was important for England after a 2-0 defeat in the preceding three-Test series.

 

"There is no substitute to winning and I think we are delighted to come through a pretty tough game," said Strauss, who managed just 44 runs in the two Tests against Pakistan.

 

Strauss agreed the super sub rule complicates matters for teams.

 

"It (the rule) makes selection meetings pretty difficult. I would have thought with who to sub and who not to, and when to sub, it makes things more complicated for the captain," said the left-handed opener.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)