Cricketers warm-up during a team practice session in Lahore.—AFP

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has extended its deadline for Pakistan to name their preliminary squad for next year's 50 overs World Cup until Jan. 5. A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source told Reuters on Thursday that the board had asked the ICC to extend its deadline of Dec. 19 while it sought information from three players who are being investigated for alleged spot-fixing.

“The ICC has given until January 5 to announce our squad,” a PCB official said.

Former test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif have already been suspended during an investigation into newspaper reports that they deliberately arranged for no-balls to be delivered in the fourth test against England this year.