PCB wants ex-rebel Razzaq in WT20 squad

Karachi:

Indian Cricket League's former recruit Abdul Razzaq is one of the two players Pakistan has proposed as replacements for the injured duo of Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir in its World Twenty20 Championship squad.

"Yes we have sent the names of Razzaq and left arm pacer Wahab Riaz as replacements since Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir are injured," a source in the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Wednesday.

He said that initial response from the ICC technical committee on allowing Razzaq to replace Tanvir was not very positive.

"They have pointed out that Razzaq's name is not in the preliminary list of 30 players we sent for the tournament," a source said.

"But we have told them that since we want to replace two injured pace bowlers we have put in Razzaq's name," the source said.

Razzaq was only recently cleared by the board to represent the national team after he along with Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Nazir and Rana Naved resigned from the ICL.

Incidentally the board had first sent the names of Razzaq, Nazir and Rana Naved in the preliminary list of 30 players for the T20 World Cup in April but then withdraw them the next day.

"The ICC technical committee has yet to give a final decision we are hoping Razzaq gets clearance to play since two of our main players are injured," the source said.

Yasir Arafat has a groin injury while Sohail Tanvir also has a hamstring problem and are going to be sent back.

Razzaq last played for Pakistan in early 2007 while Wahab Riaz played last year against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in ODIs.

The board has already replaced fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar in the Pakistan squad with Rao Iftikhar as the fast bowler was ruled out with a skin infection problem.