Nepal will be the first country to introduce the use of ‘super-sub’ in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) level as the ACC U-19 Cricket Tournament, scheduled for November 8-19, will be played under the new substitute law.
International Cricket Council (ICC) has already implemented the new amendment in clause 2 of ICC one day playing conditions for a trial period. But this is the first time, ACC has come up with the idea of introducing the new addendum keeping in view the ICC U-19 World Cup.
According to the new law, teams are permitted to replace one player of the starting line-up during the course of a match in addition to the existing substitute provisions. The nominated 12th man of the team will act as the replacement player or the super-sub that the captain is entitled to replace with any player at any time of the match. The replacement player is entitled to bat, bowl or keep wickets.
“ACC has come up with the idea keeping in view of the upcoming U-19 World Cup. We have already got the confirmation from ACC,” said TB Shah vice-president and coordinator of technical committee at Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
However, there will be no power-play – a provision that gives the fielding captain right to choose the field restrictions in two blocks of five overs after the first 10 overs. Nepali Coach Roy Luke Dias believed this would cause less pressure on youngsters. “ACC is implementing only the super-sub law, not power play so as not to put too much pressure on the players at the junior level,” he said.
Nepali skipper Kaniska Chaugai thinks that the super-sub law will be of great advantage, especially to Nepal, as teams can play an extra player. “Looking at our potential and the prospects of U-19 World Cup, we will take the utmost advantage of the new law,” said Chaugai.
Nepal is the two-time defending champion of the ACC U-19 Trophy and the favorite for the title. The winner of the tournament qualifies for the ICC U-19 World Cup, Sri Lanka to be held in February next year.
Report by Devendra Subedi