Rehman, Arafat to replace tainted duo

The International Cricket Council has allowed Pakistan to include all-rounder Yasir Arafat and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman as replacements for dope-tainted Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in their Champions Trophy squad.

"We had given the names of these two players to the ICC. The world cricket governing body has accepted the names," PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf announced in Islamabad on Monday.

Surprisingly, Pakistan did not go for out and out fast bowlers as replacements, probably having realised that the wickets prepared for the Champions Trophy are favouring slow bowlers.

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Earlier, reports from Karachi claimed that the PCB had proposed Arafat and fast bowlers Mohammed Sami and Shahid Nazir as replacements for the tainted pace duo.

ICC Champions Trophy technical committee member Ratnakar Shetty confirmed receiving the names of Arafat and Rehman from the PCB.

"As per tournament rules, there is no problem in including them as Pakistan are yet to play their first match," Shetty said.

The cricket world was stunned on Monday morning when news broke that Akhtar and Asif had failed a dope test conducted by the PCB ahead of the Champions Trophy. The tainted duo were told to return home immediately.