Pakistan to announce squad today after assurance on changes

Karachi: Pakistan will announce their 15-man World Cup squad today after being assured by the International Cricket Council (ICC) they can seek replacements for any injured players, an official said.

Chief selector Wasim Bari, who will return from South Africa after consultations with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer, will name the squad despite fitness problems with leading bowlers.

"We have spoken to the ICC and they have said if any of our selected players are not cleared fit we can seek a replacement from the technical committee before the World Cup," Saleem Altaf, director of cricket operations, said yesterday. Pakistan is facing fitness issues with four of their leading pacers; Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmad and Mohammad Sami.

Back twinge

Shoaib, Gul and Shabbir were forced to return home from South Africa due to their injury problems while Sami is still with the team struggling with a back twinge.

Shoaib has also complained of a new knee problem and Altaf said if he was not fit, he would not go to the World Cup.

Clause 6.5 of the Participating Nations Agreement for the World Cup states that after February 13, players can be replaced only in accordance with the World Cup Technical Committee and Medical Regulations.

If after March 2, the WICB Medical Committee certifies that the player is injured under the medical regulations and a team management applies for a replacement, he can be replaced only with approval of the Technical Committee. Altaf said under these regulations, a team can include a player who has a pre-existing injury and replace him later on.