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CALCUTTA, Feb 16: Pakistan were given special permission to retain 16 players for the Asian Test Championship match against India but will have to reduce their squad to 14 for the next match, technical committee member Duleep Mendis told Dawn on Tuesday.

``According to the playing conditions, each team is entitled to 14 players. But Pakistan was given special permission as they were travelling with 16 players before the start of the event,'' said the former Sri Lankan skipper.

However, Mendis made it clear that Pakistan will have to reduce their side to 14 for the match against Sri Lanka to be played at Lahore between March 4 and 8. ``They will have to submit names like the Indians did for this match.

``Nevertheless, those 14 players will not be for the entire tournament. If the three teams feel that they want to make a change to the side, they are well entitled to do that.''

Mendis stated that no firm stand on this subject was made because it was the first edition of the tournament ``and we wanted to see how things go. If things work out, there will be only 14 player per team for the entire event.''

Availing the opportunity, Pakistan manager Shaharyar Khan immediately said Pakistan might recall Mushtaq Ahmad for the Lahore Test against Sri Lanka. ``We will see how quickly he recovers from the neck injury. If he is fit, we will definitely call him into the side.''

According to insiders in the cricket team, the tour management had decided to release Mohammad Naveed Qureshi and Arshad Khan if the technical committee had not shown flexibility.