Sami, Arafat get official confirmation to play in World Cup

KARACHI: Paceman Mohammad Sami and allrounder Yasir Arafat have been given the green signal by the World Cup Technical Committee to play in the mega event, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Wednesday.

The duo, who has already left for the Caribbean islands, have been allowed to replace fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in the Pakistan's World Cup squad.

"We got the clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC) today. Now that we have a full 15-member squad in the West Indies our preparations now for the tournament should take off properly," a Board official said.

Sami and Arafat were announced as replacements after the PCB ruled out Akhtar and Asif from the World Cup squad citing fitness problems.

The Board said the two players had been examined by its medical commission and advised at least three-week rest before they underwent another examination.

However, rumours linger on that Akhtar and Asif were withdrawn from the World Cup squad as they did not clear private dope tests in London which showed that their system still had traces of banned drug nandrolone.

The ICC had picked Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez for random dope tests on Tuesday.