Cricket: ICC OKs Iqbal as Inzamam replacement

NEW DELHI - Pakistan batsman Faisal Iqbal has been cleared to replace banned skipper Inzamam-ul Haq in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy starting in India on Saturday.

The tournament's technical committee cleared the request after Inzamam was banned for four one-day matches over the Oval test fiasco in August, an ICC statement said on Thursday.

Inzamam was cleared of ball-tampering but penalised for bringing the game into disrepute after his team refused to return to the field in protest at a decision by umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to dock them runs for tampering.

The Committee said Australia's request to call up off spinner Dan Cullen for injured fast bowler Stuart Clark in the 14-player squad was expected to be approved later.

Zimbabwe have also been allowed to replace batsman Vusi Sibanda with 19-year-old Tafadzwa Mufambisi, who has played just three one-dayers.

The 22-year-old Sibanda, with 42 one-dayers to his credit in an inexperienced team, is playing club cricket in Australia.

All Champions Trophy games, day-night affairs, would start 15 minutes later at 1430 hours local time (0900 GMT) to help the broadcasters, it said.

The tournament runs from October 7 to November 5.

- REUTERS