Aamir Sohail will be retained as Pakistan captain for the International Trophy starting at Dhaka from Saturday.
According to informed sources, the executive council, the higher tier of the Pakistan cricket board, have decided to stick to Aamir Sohail though the official announcement is expected to be made by Sunday.
The preliminary discussions have taken place and the council is unanimous on Sohail.
Nusrat Azeem, the senior most PCB council member, said on Thursday he did not see any reasons for the change ``as the team is performing well Sohail's captaincy.
``We have observed quite a noticeable change in the attitude of the players. We feel that after a troubled last season, we have found the right management,'' Azeem said.
Sohail was initially appointed captain until the executive council didn't decide to review his performance for extension.
``He wasn't made captain for the Australian series. In fact, we had decided to give him the charge and see how things go. So far, they are quite encouraging as there is harmony in the team and the boys look eager to perform well,'' Azeem added.
``If we have to groom a captain for next year's World Cup, we have to give him confidence by allowing to have a run. His (Aamir Sohail's) performance in the Sahara Cup as captain wasn't bad either,'' Azeem said.
However, the president of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) admitted that the approval for the 14-man team for the Dhaka competition would be given on telephone.
``We can't hold a meeting now. Therefore, we will give approval on telephone,'' he said.
According to sources in the cricket board, the selectors were asked to submit the 14-man squad in the second week of October. But the selectors argued that it would not be possible because they wanted to look at the players in the three Tests.
Nevertheless, sources close to the selection committee said the team has almost been finalized. ``But a final discussion with Javed Miandad and Aamir Sohail has to take place,'' sources said.
In the tentative squad, the selectors have not kept left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmad and paceman Shahid Nazir. Mushtaq Ahmad has already expressed his inability for the tour because of knee injury.
The likely 14 are:
Aamir Sohail (captain), Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Salim Malik, Yousuf Yohanna, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Arshad Khan. Manager: Azhar Zaidi. Coach: Javed Miandad.