Razzaq replaces Athar in ODI squad

Abdul Razzaq will join the Pakistan team for the three-match NatWest Challenge against England, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced today.

Aamir Sohail, Pakistan's head of selectors, said: "The selection committee has decided to replace injured opener Faisal Athar with Razzaq on the request of captain Rashid Latif." The unlucky Athar injured his finger in a warm-up match and has been ruled out of the series.

Razzaq, currently playing for Middlesex, was originally dropped from the squad due to his lack of form. He made just the one half-century and took only seven wickets in Pakistan's last eight one-day internationals.

Pakistan's first match of the series is a day-night fixture at Old Trafford on June 17.