Pakistani selectors are expected to include controversial pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif in the preliminary squad of 30 players for the Champions Trophy to be held from September 22 in South Africa.

PCB sources said Chairman Ejaz Butt had given clearance to interim Chief Selector Wasim Bari to select Mohammad Asif in the preliminary list but had told Bari to consult the team management in Sri Lanka on Akhtar.

Bari, a former Test captain, is due to leave shortly for Colombo where he will consult with captain Younis Khan, coach Intikhab Alam and manager Yawar Saeed on the squad for the one-day rubber there and also on the preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy.

All cricket boards have to submit their preliminary squads by July 23 to the International Cricket Council. India has already announced its preliminary squad for the eight-nation tournament.

Asif will complete a 12-month ban for testing positive in a dope test in the Indian Premier League last year on Sept 22, the day the tournament starts.

"The PCB is already getting clearance from the ICC on the inclusion of Asif in the preliminary squad," informed one source.

The PCB has already indicated that they don't see any reason for Asif not playing in the Champions Trophy once his ban ends on the September 22.

But other sources in the Board admitted that technically the ICC could raise objections to Asif playing in the Champions Trophy.

"For one, when the preliminary squad is sent to the ICC, Asif is still serving the ban for the positive dope test. Secondly the tournament is now due to start two days earlier and the day it starts it is the last day for Asif's ban," the source noted.

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