England name uncapped Dernbach as Shahzad's replacement

MUMBAI: England has called up uncapped pace bowler Jade Dernbach to replace injured Ajmal Shahzad in their World Cup squad, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Friday.

Shahzad joined batsman Kevin Pietersen (hernia) and pace bowler Stuart Broad (side strain) on England's injury list after complaining of soreness in his left hamstring.

The ECB has received approval from the ICC for 24-year-old Dernbach, who is currently in the West Indies with England Lions, to replace Shahzad in the 15-man squad.

World Cup 2011

"He is a talented athlete and has performed very well with the Lions on the current tour of the West Indies and we feel his variations will be extremely useful on the surfaces we will be playing on should we progress to the knockout stages of the World Cup," selector Geoff Miller said in a statement.

England's World Cup hopes are still in the balance following a spectacularly inconsistent campaign that included a tied match against India and defeats by Ireland and Bangladesh.

If Bangladesh pull off an upset against South Africa on Saturday and West Indies beat India the next day, that would end England's campaign in the tournament.