Chief executive Majid Khan stated from Lahore that Saqlain has expressed his inability to participate in the third edition of the tournament to be played between Sept 12 and 20. The team leaves here on Sept 8 for Canada.
``He has informed us that he is busy with Surrey who are leading the county championships and have good chances to win the title,'' Majid said.
Regarding the availability of Wasim Akram, Majid said the allrounder would be released by Lancashire after Sept 15 ``but it was upto the selectors to decide about him. For a full tour (of Canada), Wasim Akram is not available.''
According to the itinerary of the series, the matches would be played on Sept 12, 13, 16, 19 and 20. This means that Akram, in all probability, would miss the first three games.
However, chairman of selectors Wasim Bari said he was not aware of the recent development. ``I will be going to Lahore on Saturday for Sunday's meeting. Hopefully, I will get all the details about the two players.''
Bari said he had asked Javed Miandad to contact Saqlain and Wasim. ``I have not talked to the coach so I don't know what news he has for us.''
The team for the Sahara Cup would be finalized on Sunday evening but it was unlikely that it would be officially released on the same day.
Majid Khan admitted that no executive council meeting was scheduled in the near future. He further stated that he was unsure how the matter would be tackled as he would be in Islamabad on Sunday for Monday's meeting with the Senate sports committee on women cricketers issue.
He agreed that the executive council has decided in principle not to approve the team on telephone. ``Yes, this is a problem,'' he said.
The PCB chief executive said all the 25 players attending the training camp at Lahore were available for selection. ``It is the decision of the executive council and that's why they are in Lahore.''
Chief selector Wasim Bari said his committee would be picking the best players for the tour. ``Five heads are better than one and that's why the coach and captain would be taken in confidence while finalizing the team.''
He said the selection committee meeting has been scheduled in the evening because the probables would be playing a match amongst themselves on Friday. ``That would give us a good opportunity to have a look at them.''
Insiders in the cricket board said controversial batsman Salim Malik was all set to stage a comeback after 12 months of isolation. ``He is fit and there are no charges against him,'' sources said.
Sahara Cup would also serve for a comeback to Mohammad Zahid who is said to be the quickest bowler in the world today. Zahid suffered back injury during Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka last April and since then has only played three games for Pakistan A in the Kuala Lumpur Super 8s. Zahid has played three Tests and four one-day internationals.
The likely 14 might be:
Aamir Sohail (captain), Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmad, Salim Malik, Inzamamul Haq, Yousuf Yohanna, Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan (wicketkeeper), Azhar Mahmood, Shoaib Akhtar, Aqib Javed, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmad, Mohammad Zahid.