Technical Committee confirms Martin can replace Tuffey in New Zealand squad for ICC Cricket World Cup

The ICC today confirmed the Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 has approved Chris Martin as the replacement player for Daryl Tuffey in New Zealand's squad for the tournament.

The confirmation was conveyed to the New Zealand team management in an email sent on behalf of the tournament Technical Committee on Saturday.

Martin replaces his fellow fast bowler after medical reports were received indicating that Tuffey suffered a serious injury to his right bicep during the Black Caps' 114-run win against Canada in St Lucia on Thursday.

Martin is the fifth replacement player to be called up for the tournament.

Australia's Stuart Clark, who replaced Brett Lee (ankle) and the Pakistan trio of Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat, who came in for Abdul Razzaq (knee), Shoaib Akhtar (hamstring and knee) and Mohammed Asif (elbow) are the other players to be called up by any of the 16 teams taking part following the announcements of the final squads of 15 players.

The process required for approving Martin was the same as that followed by Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board in the cases of the above players.

Applications were made in writing to the tournament Technical Committee for permission to replace the players and those applications were supported by medical reports confirming the injuries and certifying that the players were not fit for the event.

The Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup consists of David Richardson (Chairman, ICC representative), Campbell Jamieson (IDI representative), former international captains Michael Atherton and Rameez Raja (both independent nominations), Chris Dehring (Managing Director and CEO of the ICC CWC 2007) and Michael Hall (ICC CWC 2007 Cricket Operations Director).

New Zealand's next match in the ICC Cricket World Cup is its first in the Super Eights stage of the tournament, against hosts the West Indies, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday 29 March.