24 March 2004	Wednesday	02 Safar 1425

KARACHI, March 23: The winning of a toss in One-day International cricket does have its importance if two evenly-matched outfits, such as old foes Pakistan and India, are in the fray.

So far in 90 One-day Internationals between Pakistan and India since 1978-79, 86 matches have been decided with the former winning 54 of them. India's victory in Sunday's fourth One-day International was their 32nd over Pakistan with four games being declared no-result.

Overall, Pakistan have won more tosses than India, 46 against 44 with Pakistan skipper Inzamamul Haq's one toss shy of making a series clean-sweep after his Indian counterpart Saurav Ganguly had called incorrectly on all four occasions in the current series.

In 20 day/night matches between these countries, Pakistan hold an overwhelming advantage over India by winning 13 tosses with the latter remaining successful seven times. Of these 20 day/night games, Pakistan won 12 with the Indians winning eight, including the latest one on Sunday.

On 17 occasions, India won both the match as well as the toss with six under lights. Pakistan, however, have won on both counts no less than 26 times with eight of them in day/night matches.

Ganguly has led his country in 119 ODIs - since he took over the captaincy after Sachin Tendulkar had his second spell in 1999-2000 - prior to Wednesday's deciding encounter, chalking up 63 victories (including 27 under lights) as against 52 defeats (26 each in day and day/night matches) with four games declared no-result.

Ganguly has so far won 61 tosses with 28 of them in day/night matches, while losing 29 apiece in both day and day/night ties. On 37 occasions when Ganguly had won the toss, India won those matches, including 16 under lights. India won 29 times after Ganguly had lost the toss, with only eight of them day/night matches.

Inzamam, who assumed the captaincy after Rashid Latif stood down following the Test series against Bangladesh last September, has won 16 of his 23 One-day Internationals as skipper, while losing the remaining seven.

Nine of those victories were achieved in day/night encounters. The 34-year-old Inzamam has so far been lucky with the toss 13 times, including seven day/night ODIs. On 10 occasions (including five day/night fixtures) Pakistan emerged winners after Inzamam had won the toss. On the other hand, Pakistan won six times after Inzamam had lost the toss.

India, considered one of the best sides while chasing runs, have won 16 of matches batting second, but only five times under lights. Pakistan have been successful in winning 23 matches - with five of them in day/night ties - while batting second.

Arguably, the most famous chase was when the legendary Javed Miandad hit a last-ball six in Sharjah almost 18 years ago to end one of the most exciting One-day Internationals ever played, and easily the greatest against India.

Who is going to win the last ODI? Or, for that matter who will win the toss? Incredibly, Ganguly has yet to a single toss against Pakistan in eight attempts. What's the odds the current Indian captain losing his ninth straight toss against Pakistan.