Iftikhar Anjum gets ICC clearance to replace Shoaib

Dubai, May 25: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has cleared Iftikhar Anjum`s name as a replacement of Shoaib Akhtar in the Pakistan Squad for the T20 World Cup, beginning next month in England.

ICC`s Event Technical Committee cleared Anjum`s name and the confirmation has been conveyed to the Pakistan Cricket Board, according to an ICC press release.

Shoaib as he was declared unfit by the PCB Medical Board on 21 May and they decided to have the paceman replaced.

The 28-year-old Iftikhar has played one Test, 58 ODIs and one T20 against Bangladesh in Nairobi in September 2007.

He was also a member of the Pakistan side which finished as the losing finalist to India in the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007.

Any injury-based replacement requires a written submission to the Event Technical Committee along with a diagnosis from a medical practitioner as to the extent of the injury. Once replaced, a player cannot return to the squad.

Pakistan, who finished runners-up last time, will open their campaign against England at Lord`s on June 7.

Bureau Report