The five-match series for the Sahara Cup is to be contested between Pakistan and India at Toranto in Canada on Sept 12, 13, 16, 19 and 20.
According to a source connected to the (PCB), the side would be officially released in the next few days after the approval by the executive council.
The executive council's approval would once again be taken on telephone as no meeting is scheduled in the near future and the team has to leave for Canada on Sept 8.
It may be recalled that the council had unanimously decided not to give clearance to any team on telephone at its last meeting.
The salient feature of the team is the recall of former captain Salim Malik but omission of speedster Wasim Akram and spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.
Malik has been called back on the basis of his being the top scorer in the National One-day Championship with 395 runs in seven innings besides scoring 414 first-class runs at 34.50. Akram has not been kept in the list because of his commitments with Lancashire in the English cricket circuit. It may be recalled that the selection committee had dropped Akram for the South Africa and Zimbabwe tour but PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood took a unilateral decision to include him. Mahmood's decision annoyed the executive council and the chairman of selectors Salim Altaf who resigned in protest.
Saqlain Mushtaq, though, has not been included in the first 14 players, yet he is one of the three reserves as the selectors are hoping to have him for the series against India despite the fact that he has expressed his inability.
Saqlain's county Surrey is leading the county championship. The selectors are hoping that if Surrey win the next two games they would be crowned champions and the off-spinner might be released before the final game starting around Sept 10.
The other two reserves are paceman Fazl-i-Akbar, who has been kept as back-up for Waqar Younis, and off-spinner Murtuza Husain. Younis, currently out of Pakistan, and reportedly nursing an injured elbow and problem-ridden ankle, is expected to be back on Monday. His availability will be known on his return.
In another development, the PCB has refused to accede to selection committee's request to replace Shoaib Akhtar with Abdul Razzak for the Commonwealth Games. This means that Akhtar will go to Kuala Lumpur and Razzak will proceed to Toronto.
The 14 players submitted by the selectors are:
Aamir Sohail (captain), Saeed Anwar, Inzamamul Haq, Ijaz Ahmad, Salim Malik, Yousuf Yohanna, Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan (wicketkeeper), Abdul Razzak, Azhar Mahmood, Mushtaq Ahmad, Aqib Javed, Waqar Younis, Mohammad Zahid.
The three reserves are:
Saqlain Mushtaq, Murtuza Husain and Fazl-i-Akbar.
Mohammad Yaqoob adds from Lahore:
The national selection committee finalised the names of 17 players for the Pakistan senior team in its meeting on Sunday. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will get approval of the team from its executive council before announcing the names of the players.
The PCB secretary Waqar Ahmad said that he might announce the team on Monday afternoon after seeking approval of the executive council.
Talking to reporters after the selectors' meeting at the Qadhafi Stadium the PCB secretary said that there would be no big surprise as the team consisted of the best available players. The meeting was presided over by the chairman Wasim Bari and participated by members Shafique Ahmad 'Papa' and Salahuddin 'Sallu'.
Wasim Bari said that the selection committee finalised the team in consultation with the senior coach Javed Miandad and captain Aamir Sohail. However, he clarified, that neither Javed Miandad nor Aamir Sohail sat in the short selection committee meeting.
``We have been doing a lot of home work for the last two days, therefore it did not take us long in finalising the team'', said Wasim Bari.
While replying to a question, the chief selector said that a 14-member team would go to Toronto, but the selection committee added two more members in place of unfit paceman Waqar Younis and middle-order batsman Ijaz Ahmad. If both the players could not gain full fitness till departure of the team for Toronto, the remaining 14 players would make up the team.
Waqar Younis is carrying the right elbow's injury while Ijaz Ahmad has developed problem in his right thigh during camp training at the Qadhafi Stadium.
Wasim Bari said that if the PCB asked him, he would feel no hesitation in announcing the team before mediamen.
``The Selection committee can explain its decisions better'', said Wasim Bari while replying to a question.
Wasim Bari said that if the PCB gave him a ``go ahead'' signal, his selection committee would be preparing Pakistan team for the seventh World Cup Cricket Tournament to be held in England next year.