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Pakistan have had a request to allow them extra time to name their World Cup squad turned down by the International Cricket Council (ICC), but due to their lengthy injury list have sent a second request for an extension.

The final 15-man squads need to be named by February 13, but Pakistan’s last ODI in South Africa is not until the following day and they already have a number of players out of action.

However, Saleem Altaf, the PCB director of operations, told Reuters: “Our first request was turned down and the ICC said if we had any injury problems, we could ask for replacements from the World Cup technical committee as per the rules.”

Altaf added that he’d told the ICC that it was difficult for Pakistan to name their squad before the team returns home on February 16 and the condition of players is assessed.

There are concerns over Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul, who have all returned early from South Africa, while Mohammad Sami is also carrying a niggle.

Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik have also suffered problems during the tour while there is a cloud hanging over Shahid Afridi, who has been banned for four ODIs after being found guilty of his spectator incident during the first ODI at Centurion Park.

The ban rules him out of the last two ODIs in South Africa and Pakistan’s first two matches in next month’s World Cup competition.

Source:The News

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