Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup with a calf muscle injury, an official of the country's cricket board told Reuters on Sunday.

“He has been advised two to three weeks rest by the doctors so he is out of the World Cup,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Raza Kitchlew said.

The tour selection committee has replaced Hafeez with 25-year-old opener Nasir Jamshed who has played 45 ODIs.

The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the World Cup has approved Nasir Jamshed as a replacement player for Mohammad Hafeez in Pakistan’s squad for the tournament.

Hafeez, 34, has been one of Pakistan's key player, having scored 4542 runs and taken 122 wickets in 155 One-day internationals.

He became the second Pakistan player to miss the World Cup through injury after left-arm paceman Junaid Khan pulled out with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Rahat Ali.

Hafeez, who is not allowed to bowl because of his illegal action, was due to undergo an official bowling assessment on Feb 16 in Brisbane but another PCB official said it was unlikely that the player would undergo the test on that day.

Pakistan begin their World Cup campaign against arch-rivals India next Sunday at Adelaide.

Ajmal may play

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal may be in line for a late World Cup call-up after the International Cricket Council approved his return to international cricket, ending his suspension for an illegal bowling action.

The 37-year-old Ajmal can only be added to Pakistan's squad if an ICC technical committee rules that an incumbent squad member must be replaced because of a legitimate injury.