ICC allows Australia to replace Symonds

MELBOURNE: Australia have been given the green light to name injured allrounder Andrew Symonds in their World Cup squad after the ICC ruled that he could be replaced if he failed to recover in time from a bicep injury.

In response to cricket Australia's urgent clarification on squad regulation, the ICC allowed the defending champions to have Symonds in the 15-man squad and later replace him if he fails to recover in time.

ICC's general manager of cricket Dave Richardson, who is presently in the West Indies, passed on the message via a spokesman.

Welcoming the decision, skipper Ricky Ponting said Symonds, who underwent a surgery on Sunday to repair a torn bicep tendon, was a key player in his team's bid for a third consecutive World Cup title.

"The doctors have basically said six or seven weeks and he should be right to start playing again then," Ponting said.

"That sort of period comes at a really crucial time in the middle of the World Cup there so to have him around and playing those games would be great for us," he said.

"He's such an important player for us and I know how much he wants to be at the World Cup as well, so we've got a lot of thinking to do to see if we pick him in the squad to take over to the West Indies."