The International Cricket Council (ICC) have announced that injured players can be replaced after the deadline for the naming of World Cup squads.

The news will come as a welcome relief to England, who have concerns over both Andy Flintoff and Ashley Giles with the deadline for the submission of squads looming fast.

Flintoff and Giles were both sent home from the tour of Australia with injuries, but are aiming to be fit for the start of the tournament in February.

It also means that Australia will be able to include Shane Warne, who dislocated his shoulder on Sunday, in their 15-man party.

An ICC statement reads: "At any stage after 31 December, 2002, if one of the 15 named players is, in the opinion of his team manager, unfit to play a useful part in any match during the remainder of the event, a representation can be made to the event technical committee.

"Once the team manager has advised the event technical committee a panel of three doctors approved by the ICC will examine the player.

"If they agree that the player is unfit to play a useful part in any match during the remainder of the event, the team may, with the prior written approval of the event technical committee, replace such player with another. This procedure applies whether or not the injury existed before 31 December, 2002."

© CricInfo Ltd.