Stuart Clark has been officially approved as replacement for injured fast bowler Brett Lee in Australia's team for the World Cup.

The confirmation was conveyed to Cricket Australia in an email from ICC General Manager (Cricket) and chairman of the tournament Technical Committee, David Richardson.

"The Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 has approved Stuart Clark as a replacement player for Brett Lee in Australia's squad for the tournament," an ICC statement said.

Clark replaces fellow-New South Wales fast bowler after Lee was unable to recover from an ankle injury sustained during Australia's recent one-day international tour of New Zealand.

Clark is the first replacement player called up for the tournament after each of the 16 teams taking part nominated their final squads of 15 players.

The statement said, "The Committee has also received an application from the Pakistan Cricket Board to replace injured Abdul Razzaq with fellow all-rounder Azhar Mahmood and that application will be considered soon."

Razzaq was ruled out after suffering a partial ligament tear and bone bruise to his knee during team training.