Event Technical Committee confirms Iftikhar Anjum can replace Shoaib Akhtar in Pakistan squad for IC

The ICC has confirmed the Event Technical Committee of the ICC World Twenty20 2009 has approved Iftikhar Anjum as a replacement player for Shoaib Akhtar in Pakistan?s squad for the tournament, which runs from 5 to 21 June at three venues in England ? Lord?s, The Oval and Trent Bridge.

The confirmation was conveyed to the Pakistan Cricket Board on behalf of the tournament Technical Committee on Sunday.

Iftikhar replaced Shoaib who was declared unfit by the PCB Medical Board on 21 May. As a result of this, the PCB chose to seek to get him replaced for the whole event.

The 28-year-old Iftikhar has played one Test, 58 ODIs and one T20I 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.

As with all players in the tournament, the eligibility of a replacement player is subject to approval by the ICC before that player can be officially added to the squad.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC World Twenty20 2009 consists of David Richardson (ICC, Technical Committee chairman), Steve Elworthy (Tournament Director), Campbell Jamieson (IDI representative), Alan Fordham (ECB representative), Ian Bishop (independent nomination) and David Lloyd (independent nomination).

Pakistan?s first match of the ICC World Twenty20 will take place against England at Lord?s on Sunday 7 June at 1730 (BST).