Pakistan replace tainted trio with Mohammad Irfan, Asad Shafiq

Pakistan cricket today called up seven-foot tall fast bowler Mohammad Irfan and batsman Asad Shafiq as replacements for the suspended trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif ahead of the T20 and One-day internationals against England.

Pakistan cricket on Saturday called up seven-foot tall fast bowler Mohammad Irfan and batsman Asad Shafiq as replacements for the suspended trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif ahead of the T20 and One-day internationals against England starting on Friday.

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The two players, currently playing with the Pakistan 'A' team in Sri Lanka, will join the senior team by next week.

Irfan, touted as the tallest bowler in world cricket has been picked for the first time while Shafiq made his Pakistan debut during the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

The replacement comes after the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended the tainted trio of Butt, Asif and Aamer from international cricket over spot-fixing allegations Saturday.

"The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt approved the names of the two players on the request of the team management and selection committee," a PCB statement said Friday.

Team manager Yawar Saaed said the team is under pressure but will try to play the best cricket in the series ahead.

"We are human beings and everybody has pressures in life. We have to ride the pressure, not give in to the pressure. I am concentrating on managing the team."

"The rest of the team and I are trying to do the best we can, play the best cricket we can. My personal view is that we should let the investigators go ahead and wait until the final decision comes," Saeed was quoted as saying by the Telegraph.

Pakistan are left with two T20 matches and five one-day internationals on the England tour.