Dhaka, Feb 17 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed Tinashe Panyangara as a replacement player for the injured Edward Rainsford in the Zimbabwe squad for the Feb 19-April 2 World Cup.

The ICC's event technical committee for the tournament approved Panyangara as per a written request from Zimbabwe, the game's apex body said in a statement.

Rainsford was ruled out of the tournament after injuring his right ankle ligaments.

Panyangara, a 25-year-old fast bowler, has taken 26 wickets in 23 ODIs. He has also played three Test matches in which he took eight wickets.

Rainsford is the eighth player to be replaced in the tournament after compatriots Tinotenda Mawoyo and Sean Ervine, Australia's Nathan Hauritz and Michael Hussey, Praveen Kumar of India, England's Eoin Morgan and Sohail Tanvir of Pakistan who were replaced earlier.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 comprises David Richardson (ICC chairman), Ratnakar Shetty (tournament director), Campbell Jamieson (IDI representative), Anil Kumble (host nominee), David Lloyd (independent nomination) and Sanjay Manjrekar (independent nomination).