Iftikhar Anjum has been approved as a replacement for Shoaib Akhtar in Pakistan's 15-man squad for the World Twenty20.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed the event technical committee of the ICC World Twenty20 have approved Anjum as a replacement for Shoaib, although the move still needs to be approved by the governing body.

The 28-year-old Iftikhar has played one Test, 58 One-day Internationals and one Twenty20 against Bangladesh in Nairobi in September 2007.

He was also a member of the Pakistan side which lost the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 final against India in South Africa in 2007.

Shoaib was named in the initial squad for the tournament, which takes place in England from June 5, but the Pakistan Cricket Board announced they had applied for a replacement to the ICC technical committee as the bowler had received treatment for a genital infection.

The 33-year-old, whose participation in the tournament has been in doubt after he struggled for fitness and form during the recent one-day series against Australia, was diagnosed with genital viral warts and underwent a course of electrofulgration treatment - a procedure where electrical current is used to destroy unwanted tissue.

Pakistan play their first warm-up match against South Africa at Trent Bridge on June 1 before their first match of the ICC World Twenty20 against England at Lord's six days later.