KARACHI: Cricket's governing body Friday approved paceman Rahat Ali as a replacement player for injured Junaid Khan in Pakistan's squad for the World Cup, which starts next week.

The 26-year-old Ali played his only one-day international against Sri Lanka in June 2012, and was a surprise replacement for Junaid, announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said its technical committee for the World Cup approved Pakistan's request to replace Junaid with Ali.

“Any injury or illness-based replacement requires a written submission to the Event Technical Committee along with a diagnosis from a medical practitioner as to the extent of the injury or illness,” said the ICC.

Once replaced, a player may not return to the squad save as an approved subsequent replacement for another injured or ill player, the ICC said.

Junaid failed to recover from a leg injury sustained last month.

Pakistan will play their opening match against India at the Adelaide Oval on February 15.