Technical Committee confirms Sohail Tanvir can replace Shoaib Akhtar in Pakistan squad for upcoming ICC World Twenty20

The ICC has confirmed the Technical Committee of the ICC World Twenty20 2007 has approved Sohail Tanvir as a replacement player for Shoaib Akhtar in Pakistan's squad for the tournament, which runs from 11 to 24 September in South Africa.

The confirmation was conveyed to the Pakistan Cricket Board in an email sent on behalf of the tournament Technical Committee today (Saturday).

Sohail replaces Shoaib after Shoaib was sent home by the PCB following an incident during a team training session at Centurion on Thursday.

Sohail, the 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler, is the sixth replacement player to be called up for the tournament so far after Dimitri Mascarenhas was approved to replace Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson was approved to replace Ravi Bopara in the England squad, Andre Nel was approved to replace Loots Bosman for South Africa, Dilruwan Perera was approved to replace Muttiah Muralidaran in the Sri Lanka squad and Ben Hilfenhaus was approved to replace Shaun Tait in the Australia squad.

The process required for approving any player involves that player's home board making an application in writing to the tournament Technical Committee for permission.

In this case, the Technical Committee approved Shoaib's replacement on the basis of exceptional circumstances, for the following reasons: the incident and disciplinary action taken by the PCB is not related to the matches in the event; the tournament has not commenced; and there is a precedent to support the replacement.

The Technical Committee of the ICC World Twenty20 consists of David Richardson (International Cricket Council), Campbell Jamieson (IDI, the ICC's commercial arm), Steve Elworthy (tournament director), Brian Basson (Cricket South Africa), Ravi Shastri (independent) and Ian Bishop (independent).

Pakistan's first match of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa will take place against Scotland in Durban on Wednesday 12 September.