MELBOURNE, Feb 23: Australia will replace Shane Warne in their World Cup squad this week despite the leg-spinner announcing he will appeal against his doping ban, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said on Sunday.

“We’ve decided we will replace Shane Warne in the World Cup squad,” ACB spokesman Peter Young said.

“We have a player on standby to fly on Tuesday to South Africa.”

Young said the ACB could not release the player’s name, believed to be young Queensland off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, until the World Cup Technical Committee approved the replacement.

Test leg-spinner Stuart MacGill is considered to be the other main contender for the place in Ricky Ponting’s 15-man squad.

“We’re hoping to be able to announce it in Zimbabwe on Monday,” Young said.

Young said the player had been advised of his selection.

Warne’s 12-month ban announced by the ACB on Saturday rules the 33-year-old out of the World Cup and four Australian Test series in 2003, starting with the tour of West Indies in April.—Reuters