The Hindu : Replacement for Warne to be named today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

Replacement for Warne to be named today

Sydney Feb. 11. Australian selectors would name a replacement for Shane Warne on Wednesday after the champion leg-spinner tested positive for a banned substance and headed back home just three days into the World Cup tournament.

The chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns, said in Brisbane the selection panel would meet on Tuesday to consider a replacement for Warne, who is flying back without playing in even a single World Cup match.

Mr Hohns said the replacement needed to be sent across to South Africa at the earliest. Defending champion Australia, which opened its campaign with a win against Pakistan today, takes on India in its second Pool A match on Saturday.

The selectors have an unexpected problem at hand as Stuart MacGill, who has in the past taken the place of Warne, was not named in the 30-member probables list for the World Cup.

They will now have to choose from the inexperienced trio of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, leggie Cameron White and left-arm spinner Mark Higgs. But it was still not clear whether the International Cricket Council would agree to a replacement for Warne, who faces an Australian Cricket Board (ACB) drugs tribunal.

The ACB has reportedly asked ICC to consider allowing Warne to play in the World Cup if his second sample tests negative and it is proved that no offence was committed.

The 33-year-old Warne had stated before the start of the World Cup that it would be his last outing in cricket's mega show.

PTI

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