Inzamam likely to replace Tendulkar

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, is in line to replace Sachin Tendulkar in both the World XI ODI and Test squads for the Super Series against Australia.

A senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official told Cricinfo that he had received a phone call from the ICC informing him that Inzamam will be included in both squads as a replacement for Tendulkar, who will miss out owing to a long-standing elbow injury.

The official said, "I received a call yesterday evening from an official in the ICC and he said that Inzamam had been included in both squads."

Inzamam had recently said that he was unwilling to travel to Australia for the ICC awards and the Captains Conference. At the time, he also hinted that, if given a late opportunity as a replacement for Tendulkar, he might turn down the offer to play. Inzamam had given his persistent back troubles as a reason for not wanting to travel to Australia, claiming it may hamper his preparation for the series against England.

But the PCB official confirmed that Inzamam has agreed to participate when he is officially informed by the ICC. "They have to inform him personally of their decision to make it official but he has told us he is willing to play and we have no problem with that."

Inzamam told the Karachi-based daily, The News, "It is an honour to play for the World XI with the world's best players, although naturally I would have liked to be in the original squads. But the selectors have their own criteria for selecting teams on which I can't comment."

Inzamam also spoke of his desire to make a mark in Australia. "Australia is special for me as I first made my name there in the 1992 World Cup," he said, "and I have always enjoyed playing there. Pakistan's next tour to Australia is in 2008 and realistically I don't think I would be able to make that tour. So I have decided to make this one final trip there and do something special."

He also said the series would be a good opportunity to observe leading English players such as Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen and Steve Harmison, who are widely expected to make significant contributions in the series against Pakistan, beginning in November. "It would also be a good opportunity for me to get valuable practice before the home series against England."

There had been considerable criticism of the ICC in Pakistan after the exclusion of Inzamam from the World XI squads. After averaging nearly 95 in Tests and over 50 in ODIs this year, many felt that his exclusion was unjustified and a result of reasons other than his form.