All-rounder Abdul Razzaq was on Wednesday given the all-clear to replace injured Yasir Arafat in Pakistan's World Twenty20 squad, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed.

The 29-year-old Razzaq cut his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) earlier this month and was cleared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to play for the national team.

Fast bowler Arafat suffered a hamstring injury during Pakistan's 48-run defeat against England in their opening match on Sunday.

Razzaq, who played 46 Tests and 231 one-day internationals for Pakistan, joined the unofficial ICL as a protest against his omission from the squad selected for the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007.

The PCB barred all the 23 players who signed for the rebel league from domestic and international cricket as the ICL was not recognised by the ICC and Board of Control for Cricket in India.

However, all but two of Pakistan's ICL players had their bans suspended by the Sindh High Court in February this year.

Razzaq said he was delighted at the prospect of playing for Pakistan again.

"I am very happy and if given a chance I will do my very best for the country," he said.

The ICC said in statement that confirmation was conveyed to the PCB on behalf of the event technical committee.

"The ICC has confirmed the event technical committee of the ICC World Twenty20 2009 has approved Abdul Razzaq as a replacement player for Yasir Arafat in Pakistan's squad for the tournament," said the statement.

Pakistan's next match of the tournament is on Friday against Sri Lanka at Lord's.

While the part time spinners in IPL were taking hattricks our very own bhajji was struggling to spin the bowl consequently he failed to bowl as well in IPL as his team expected him to but his fingers were working overtime sending SMSes to certain Shilpi sharma(Jo bole so nihal fame). Apparently, bhajji wanted her to come to SA to cheer for him and catch him in action.
There friendship has become the talk of the town. News is also that this budding friendship has already reached the next level, which for obvious reasons, the duo won’t accept.

Shilpi maintains that he’s ‘just a friend’ and not someone special. “What do you mean by ‘is he a special to me?’Yes, I don’t deny the fact that we’ve been friends for almost a year and he wants me to come to South Africa to cheer him and his team. Is there anything wrong with that?” she shoots back.

Sanjana and Virat

Sanjana and Virat Kohli

She is a Kannada and Telugu actress while he’s the Bangalore Royal Challengers batsman. They have apparently been spotted together on many occasions.

But the couple, who know each other for the past one year, say they’re just good friends.