ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s spin-bowling all-rounder Sufiyan Muqeem wrote his name in the record books by notching the highest individual score for a No. 12 in men’s ODIs, while Naseem Shah fell just short of the mark for a No. 11 on Wednesday in second ODI at Hamilton against the host New Zealand.
Despite these feats, Blackcaps had the upper hand, triumphing over Pakistan by 84 runs in the second ODI, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The Kiwis dominated the match, scoring 292-8, before reducing Pakistan to 72-7.
Haris retires hurt
At a score of 93-7, Haris Rauf took a blow to the helmet, forcing him to retire hurt. When the scoreboard read 114-8, Rauf’s concussion replacement, Naseem Shah, stepped up to the crease and partnered with Faheem, who scored a solid 73 off 80 deliveries, to add a valuable 60 runs for the ninth wicket.
Naseem then unleashed a spectacular innings, notching a career-best 51 runs off just 44 balls before Ben Sears (5-59) wrapped up the innings.
Meanwhile, Muqeem, batting at No. 12, remained unbeaten on13. This remarkable feat etched his name in history, setting a new record for the highest score by a No. 12 in international cricket. Muqeem surpassed the previous record of 4* held by Zahir Khan against Bangladesh in the Mirpur Test in 2023.
Notably, Muqeem’s 13 runs put all others in the shade, outshining the combined total of all other No. 12 batters, who have collectively mustered just 8 runs in international play.
The concussion substitute rule in cricket, designed to protect players with head or neck injuries, allows teams to bring in a like-for-like replacement without tipping the scale unfairly. This regulation was established by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s global authority, and was implemented across all international formats—including T20 and First Class cricket—on August 1, 2019.
Understanding concussion substitution rule
If a player sustains a concussion or suspected concussion during a match, a replacement can be allowed under strict conditions.
Firstly, the injury must occur on the field and during active play. Also, the decision to request a substitute must be based on a formal diagnosis by the team’s medical representative.
The team medical staff or manager must submit a Concussion Replacement Request to the ICC Match Referee, outlining the incident, medical assessment, and a like-for-like replacement for the injured player.
The request must be submitted as soon as possible after the incident. The ICC Match Referee is responsible for approving the replacement, ensuring it does not create an unfair advantage for the team.
Like-for-like substitute
A fundamental aspect of the rule is that the substitute must be comparable to the injured player in terms of role and skillset. The match referee will assess the likely contribution of the concussed player had they continued, against the normal role of the proposed replacement.
If the referee believes the replacement would stack the deck, restrictions may be placed on their participation. For instance, if the replaced player was suspended from bowling at the time of injury, the substitute will also be prohibited from bowling.
Once approved, the substituted player takes no further part in the match, and both the original player and the replacement are recorded as having played for statistical purposes. The match referee’s decision on concussion replacements is final, with no right to appeal.
The introduction of concussion substitutes aligns cricket with other major sports that prioritise player welfare. It has been instrumental in reducing risks associated with head injuries while maintaining the competitive integrity of the game.
By striking a balance between safety and fairness, the regulation ensures that teams are not left disadvantaged due to an unforeseen medical emergency while preventing tactical exploitation of the rule.
No.12s in int’l cricket
Runs Batter Team Opposition Venue Year Formats
0* Shannon Gabriel West Indies India Kingston 2019 Men’s Tests
0 Lungi Ngidi South Africa India Ranchi 2019 Men’s Tests
0 Abu Jayed Bangladesh India Kolkata 2019 Men’s Tests
1* Rajeshwari Gayakwad India Australia Melbourne 2020 Women’s T20Is
0* Ebadot Hossain Bangladesh Pakistan Chattogram 2021 Men’s Tests
0* Josh Little Ireland West Indies Kingston 2022 Men’s ODIs
0* Jayden Seales West Indies Australia Perth 2022 Men’s Tests
1* Fazalhaq Farooqi Afghanistan Pakistan Sharjah 2023 Men’s T20Is
4* Zahir Khan Afghanistan Bangladesh Mirpur 2023 Men’s Tests
0* Henry Ssenyondo Uganda Tanzania Kigali 2023 Men’s T20Is
2* Lindokuhle Mabhero Zimbabwe Kenya Entebbe 2023 Women’s T20Is
13* Sufiyan Muqeem Pakistan New Zealand Hamilton 2025 Men’s ODIs
Highest scores by each batting position in men’s ODIs
While Muqeem got his record, Naseem fell short of the highest score by a No.11 in men’s ODIs. That record still rests in the hands of Muhammad Amir (58 against England, Nottingham 2016). These are the only two fifties from that position. Their compatriot Shoaib Akhtar (43 against England, Cape Town 2003) sits in third place.
Position Score Batter Team Opposition Ground Year
1 237* Martin Guptill New Zealand West Indies Wellington 2015
2 264 Rohit Sharma India Sri Lanka Kolkata 2014
3 194* Charles Coventry Zimbabwe Bangladesh Bulawayo 2009
4 189* Viv Richards West Indies England Manchester 1984
5 174 Heinrich Klaasen South Africa Australia Centurion 2023
6 201* Glenn Maxwell Australia Afghanistan Mumbai 2023
7 170* Luke Ronchi New Zealand Sri Lanka Dunedin 2015
8 (Joint) 100* Simi Singh Ireland South Africa Dublin 2021
8 (Joint) 100* Mehidy Hasan Miraz Bangladesh India Mirpur 2022
9 92* Andre Russell West Indies India North Sound 2011
10 86* Ravi Rampaul West Indies India Visakhapatnam 2011
11 58 Mohammad Amir Pakistan England Nottingham 2016
12 13* Sufiyan Muqeem Pakistan New Zealand Hamilton 2025
