KARACHI (Reuters):

THE PAKISTAN Cricket Board (PCB) has received clearance from the sport's global governing body to replace any players in its World Cup squad who test positive in dope tests this month, a senior official said.

Pakistan will conduct out-of-competition tests on all 30 players they have named in their provisional World Cup squad in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year's scandal when fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif tested positive.

Akhtar and Asif tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone in tests before the Champions Trophy in India.

"We have got clarification from the ICC (International Cricket Council) on this issue," Saleem Altaf, director cricket operations, said.

Special clause

"Replacements will be allowed (under) the 'special circumstances' clause of the World Cup participating nations agreement."

Akhtar and Asif were banned for two years and one year respectively in November, but cleared by an appeals tribunal of the PCB after a month and played in the Test series in South Africa.

Altaf said all 30 players had been directed to report for dope tests in Lahore after the team returns from South Africa about February 15.