The selectors will, however, deliberate upon the first Test squad on Thursday but the announcement will be made on Friday, Majid Khan added. ``We will try to keep it (number of players) low but all depends on the selectors. I think it should be a 13-member squad,'' added the PCB official.
Majid Khan said Wasim Akram was initially appointed captain till the series against the West Indies. ``For the tour of Sharjah, the consent and approval of the Executive Council will be taken before the decision is announced.''
Akram is presently in Mumbai and is expected to return on Thursday. It was, however, not confirmed if he will sit in the selection committee meeting which will be held under the chairmanship of an ailing Salim Altaf who is down with flu.
Majid Khan's confirmation on Wasim Akram's status lays rest to speculations about change in captaincy in the background of an embarrassing performance in the quadrangular tournament. The speculations had surfaced after Majid Khan lashed out at Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis after defeat in the quadrangular tournament. Majid, while trying to clarify his position, said: ``All I said was that our present star players are past their best. They are not the same as they were four or five years back when the duo used to run through the opposition.
``This is a cycle. Cricketers touch their best and then go on to pass their best. However, I maintain that they are past their best though they are still in the team.'' On the future of Haroon Rasheed as coach, Majid Khan said as far as he was concerned, there was no change in the policy.
``Haroon is the coach and will remain the coach till the end of this season. But his performance will be evaluated at the end.'' The PCB official confirmed that he met former captain Salim Malik at his office on Tuesday. ``He wanted to see me. We had a good round of talks and that's it.''
Salim Malik was quoted by a news agency that the master batsman wanted to seek clarification from the cricket board about his future. Nevertheless, Majid refused to deny or confirm if Malik's future as cricketer came up for discussion.
Regarding Wednesday's Executive Council meeting, Majid Khan said it was a one-point agenda meeting. ``The Under-19 team for the Australian tour and its official had to be approved. ``No other topic came up for discussion, including the World Cup accounts,'' said the PCB boss.