Will Afridi Absence makes the difference?

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

I know it's not politically correct to say it, but that's never stopped me before: I really am not happy about this "part-time touring" for prospective fathers. Strauss never had his mind on the job in hand while he was in Pakistan.

Political correctness is way overrated, OF!!

Strauss is back out there now. I wonder if he'll be concentrating on cricket this time.

I wonder if Vaughan will stay at home now, as his wife's expecting too. Also, I wonder if they can find another crazy name for Talula's sibling???

[Occasional Fan]

I didn't know Strauss was back there, NE, but now I do know it, I just hope that he will pass the photos around the dressing room once, then bung them back in his suitcase and get on with his job. As to Michael Vaughan, he returned to England especially for the birth of his second child, I understand, but is taking the opportunity to see a consultant about his gammy leg. The papers' websites this afternoon seem to have developed a rash of reports suggesting that his return to Pakistan is "in the balance". This is just ridiculous, IMO. Vaughan is not a one-day cricketer of any real use, and it makes no sense to me for him to risk aggravating an injury in the interests of the pyjama game. Much better to do whatever it takes to get fit for the test matches in India. Who knows: maybe he'll even perform there! Heaven knows we will need him to!

[Captain]

Afridi will now miss out on being Pakistan's first super-sub, this will be the first time Pakistan play a ODI with the new rules. We are the last team to so and hope we are the last. His absense will hamper plans somewhat.

[Rachael]

Will Razzaq get the spot? I'd guess that he's not strictly needed as either a batsman OR a bowler for the first half on the first innings of most matches... and by that time the management would be well placed to decide who to remove.

Sometimes who to remove is more important than who comes on....

[sanizam]

Originally Posted by Captain

this will be the first time Pakistan play a ODI with the new rules

This will certianly make a difference... and will give England a chance to take advantage of this... cuz it takes time to get use to new rules as seen with other teams ... i hope Pakistan team management gets their math right..

.

[Captain]

To be honest I think the ICC can get its head straight and remove this ridiculous rule before the World Cup.

[Occasional Fan]

Seems to me that the general sentiment here is against the super-sub rule, but have there been any clear indications to date about how the players and authorities feel? My knee-jerk reaction was anti as soon as the rule was announced, but I'm not enough of a fan of the ODI format really to have a clear reason for that. Do we know what the insiders are thinking at the moment?

To check that my perception of the board's sentiment is right, I'll open a poll on this.