LAHORE, Oct 17: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has allowed Pakistan to replace Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif with leg-spinner Abdul Rehman and all-rounder Yasir Arafat.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Cricket Operations Saleem Altaf said he had received the confirmation from the ICC technical committee chairman through email.

The PCB made a request for the replacement to the ICC after both Shoaib and Asif were tested positive.

He said PCB was trying to get an early visa for both Abdul Rehman and Yasir to join the team in India well before the second match of the ICC trophy to be played at Mohali on Oct 25.

Though Abdul Rehman's name was included in the preliminary list of 30 probables sent to the ICC, from which Pakistan could make the replacement in case of injury or in exceptional cases, the ICC gave a special permission for Yasir as his name was not included in that list.