LAHORE, Oct 24: The issue of controversial paceman Shoaib Akhtar’s inclusion in the Pakistan team for the home series against England is delaying the announcement of the squad.

With visitors due on Wednesday to play three Tests and five ODIs, Pakistani selectors and team management are still busy in assessing the abilities of the 25 probables in the training camp. The first Test is scheduled to start in Multan from Nov 12.

Shoaib is under ‘intense observation’ of the PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan and coach Bob Woolmer in the nets at the Qadhafi Stadium instead of selectors.

Shaharyar comes downstairs to personally watch the pacer, and the coach says he will not issue any statement on Shoaib till the end of the trial match on Oct 29, while Shoaib has also refused to talk to the press.

With a good number of probables attending the training camp it gives the appearance of a festive ‘mela’ at Qadhafi Stadium.

There were three nets on Monday and obviously one coach is not enough to control three nets single-handedly.

The national selectors, however, will announce the team after watching the performance of the probables in the last trial match to be held at Qadhaffi Stadium from Oct 26 to 29.

But from the selected players some will play back-to-back three-day practice matches against England in Rawalpindi and Lahore from Oct 29 thus there are remote chances to hold the camp training with only selected boys before the start of the Test series.

If the selectors announced the team and decided to test maximum players from them in the practice matches against England, the move could provide Pakistani players an opportunity to play quality cricket which they have been lacking for the last six months.

Pakistan last played international cricket in May-June this year against the West Indies.

Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq has also expressed concern about lack of international cricket while the English team is coming after meeting the world champions Australia in the Ashes.

England had already announced its teams both for Test and ODIs, a month ago. But Pakistan are more conscious in selecting the team, despite having the advantage of calling up any player, out-of-the-team, during the series.