Cricket: Razzaq to replace Akhtar for charity match

Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzak has been drafted into the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) 11 to replace injured Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar for next week's charity match at the MCG in Melbourne.

Akhtar was forced to withdraw from the charity game due to a hamstring injury.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the World Cricket Tsunami Appeal matches will have official One-Day International status.

ICC President Ehsan Mani said that the decision was confirmed by a vote of the ICC Executive Board due to the exceptional nature of the matches in which players from all ICC Full Member countries are available to play.

"The ICC Board is of the view that due to the extraordinary circumstances that have brought about these two matches an exception to the existing rules should be made," said Mani.

"This decision applies only to these two matches and does not change the status of other one-day matches from the past or in the future."

The proceeds from the January 10 match in Melbourne will be donated to the global relief and development organisation, World Vision, which is dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide.

The ICC Rest of the World 11 playing apparel will be predominantly navy blue with white stripes, whilst the Asian 11, which is sponsored by the Asian Cricket Council, will be outfitted in green apparel with gold trim.

Both teams will also be supplied with playing caps and helmets in team colours branded with the event logo.

Teams.

ICC Rest of the World 11: Ricky Ponting (Australia, captain), Stephen Fleming (New Zealand), Dwayne Bravo (West Indies), Chris Cairns (New Zealand), Chris Gayle (West Indies), Adam Gilchrist (Australia), Darren Gough (England), Matthew Hayden (Australia), Brian Lara (West Indies), Glenn McGrath (Australia), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Shane Warne (Australia).

Asian 11: Sourav Ganguly (India, captain), Marvan Atapattu (Sri Lanka), Rahul Dravid (India), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka), Alok Kapali (Bangladesh), Zaheer Khan (India), Anil Kumble (India), Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Virender Sehwag (India), Sachin Tendulkar (India), Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka), Yousuf Youhana (Pakistan), Abdul Razzak (Pakistan).

- AAP