Sohail Tanvir gets lucky after Aktar's recall

Johannesburg, Sep 9 (UNI) International Cricket Council's (ICC) Technical Committee has confirmed Sohail Tanvir as the replacement of Shoaib Akhtar in the Pakistan team for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup to be played in South Africa from Septeber 11 to 24.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recalled Shoaib from South Africa after he hit fellow paceman Mohammad Asif with a bat during practice.

The incident took place during the team's net session at the Centurion Park where a heated arguement between the two pacers ended up Shoaib striking Asif on the thigh with a bat.

The confirmation was conveyed to PCB in an email sent on behalf of the tournament Technical Committee yesterday.

Sohail, the 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler, is the sixth replacement player to be called up for the tournament so far after Dimitri Mascarenhas was approved to replace Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson was approved to replace Ravi Bopara in the England squad, Andre Nel was approved to replace Loots Bosman for South Africa, Dilruwan Perera was approved to replace Muttiah Muralidaran in the Sri Lanka squad and Ben Hilfenhaus was approved to replace Shaun Tait in the Australia squad.

The process required for approving any player involves that player's home board making an application in writing to the tournament Technical Committee for permission.

In this case, the Technical Committee approved Shoaib's replacement on the basis of exceptional circumstances, for the following reasons. The incident and disciplinary action taken by the PCB is not related to the matches in the event, the tournament has not commenced and there is a precedent to support the replacement.

Tanvir, who hails from Rawalpindi, has yet to play an international match but has taken 65 wickets in 19 first-class games over the last three years.

A left-arm seamer and left-handed batsman, Tanvir also has a first-class century to his credit and is regarded as one of Pakistan's most promising juniors.

Pakistan, drawn in group D of the preliminary league, open their campaign on September 12 against Scotland in Durban before meeting arch-rivals India on September 14 at the same venue.

UNI