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South African-born Dernbach gets England call

MUMBAI - Jade Dernbach, a little-known South African-born bowler, will replace the injured Ajmal Shahzad in England’s World Cup squad, the International Cricket Council said on Friday after giving its approval.

Shahzad became England’s third World Cup casualty since the tournament began with a hamstring injury, pulling out on Thursday.

Dernbach, 24, a right-arm, medium-fast bowler with Surrey, was in England’s original 30-man squad for the World Cup but failed to make the final 15 and has been touring the Caribbean with England Lions.

“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.

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.

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.