ICC clears Azhar Mahmood as Razzaq's replacement

Dubai, Mar 1 (UNI) ICC today approved Azhar Mahmood as replacement for Abdul Razzaq in Pakistan's squad for the World Cup.

The confirmation was conveyed to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in an e-mail by ICC General Manager and Technical Committee Chairman David Richardson.

All-rounder Razzaq was dropped from the showpiece event in the Caribbean after he failed a fitness test.

Razzaq has not recovered from his knee injury which he sustained during a training session in Lahore earlier this week.

Mahmood is the second replacement player to be called up for the tournament. Australia's Stuart Clark, who replaced Brett Lee, was the first man to be drafted in by any of the 16 teams taking part in the mega event following the announcements of the final squads of 15 players.

PCB has also sought ICC approval for the replacement of injured duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif by all-rounder Yasir Arafat and speedster Mohammad Sami.

UNI