Three teams call replacements

Pakistan's Azhar Mahmood, England's Alex Wharf and South Africa's Charl Langeveldt replace injured team members for Champions Trophy.

Pakistan's Azhar Mahmood, England's Alex Wharf and South Africa's Charl Langeveldt replace injured team members for the Champions Trophy that starts in England on Friday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced.

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"Requests by England, Pakistan and South Africa to call up replacements for injured players have been approved by the event technical committee of the ICC Champions Trophy 2004," said an ICC statement on Saturday.

The 12-team biennial tournament will be played at Birmingham, London and Southampton.

"England seam bowler Kabir Ali has been replaced by Alex Wharf, who has deputised for him in the current NatWest series against India, while Surrey all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been drafted into the Pakistan squad in place of injured pace bowler Shabbir Ahmed."

"Another pace bowler, Andre Nel, has been forced to withdraw from South Africa's squad and has been replaced by Boland quick bowler Charl Langeveldt, who has played seven one day internationals," the statement said.

The Champions Trophy technical committee is headed by ICC general manager-cricket David Richardson and also comprises, English Cricket Board host tournament director David Clarke, IDI (ICC Development International) commercial manager Campbell Jamieson, ECB director of cricket John Carr and independent IDI nominees Sunil Gavaskar and Michael Holding.