KARACHI: The suspense regarding the make-up of the Pakistan squad for the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy is expected to be over on Monday when the National Selection Committee, headed by Iqbal Qasim, unveils the 15-man party for the trip to the United Kingdom.

As always the last-minute drama as to who would be the lucky ones to win the selectors’ nod for a trophy which Pakistan has never managed to lift despite starting the subsequent tournaments among the favourites.

The one-day series in South Africa which Pakistan lost 3-2 last month, more or less, pose serious questions to the selectors whether to keep faith with those players who of late are no longer automatic selections as they search for a balanced squad.

According to reliable sources, it is a forgone conclusion that former national skipper and all-rounder Shahid Afridi, a seasoned campaigner with 354 One-day International caps under his belt since October 1996, won’t be part of the squad after a plethora of lacklustre performances over the past couple of seasons. Many say the flamboyant cricketer has probably reached the end of his international career.

Likewise, the sources also confirmed that senior pros Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal, both surviving in international cricket on borrowed times, are likely to be given one final chance to prove their worth in the Pakistan squad.

The sources further revealed that Kamran’s younger sibling Umar Akmal is almost certain to be overlooked after his repeated failures on recent tours as well as in domestic competitions. The selectors are keen on picking the prodigiously talented left-hander Haris Sohail — who still remains uncapped despite being part of national outfits in various formats since June last year — and ensuring the dependable Asad Shafiq is given an extended run in the playing XI.

The selectors, it is learnt, are seriously considering Umar Amin as a batting all-rounder. The left-handed batsman, who played four Tests in England three years ago, has been one of the top performers in the season. In addition Umar is a pretty useful part-time bowler whose gentle medium-pacers could prove useful in the English conditions.

If both Haris and Umar Amin are picked the squad would have four left-handers among the specialist batsmen with Nasir Jamshed and Imran Farhat certain inclusions. According to the sources, the team management wants five seamers in the squad along with spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman.

The recent President’s Cup one-day competition has given Iqbal and two of his most active committee members, Saleem Jaffer and Azhar Khan, a generous feedback. The non-availability of Umar Gul through a serious knee injury — which has necessitated the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to fly the 29-year-old strike bowler to Melbourne for surgery in May — has given the selectors an opportunity to give the thus far untried Asad Ali a deserved promotion to the one-day squad.

Asad, 24, toured India and South Africa with a member of the national Twety20 squad after a string of consistent performances on the domestic circuit. He appears to be an ideal replacement for the unfortunate Umar in a Pakistan squad that these days is overwhelmingly dominated by left-arm quickies with Junaid Khan and the giant Mohammad Irfan the first-choice seamers at captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s disposal while another southpaw Sohail Tanvir also comes into the picture with his handy batting as an added incentive.

Wasim Akram — the fast bowling legend who is supervising the Ufone-PCB King of Speed programme here at the National Stadium — has been very impressed with Asad and has earmarked him as one of the brightest pacemen to have emerged on the horizon along with Ehsan Adil.

Several other names are in the fray with the experienced Aizaz Cheema, who has been out of favour since the tour of Sri Lanka last year, and all-rounder Hammad Azam probably fighting for one spot.

Compared to other competing teams, Pakistan would have the advantage of getting acclimatised to the conditions well ahead of the Champions Trophy because they would also be playing two One-day Internationals each against Scotland and Ireland in Edinburgh and Dublin. Pakistan then face the West Indies in their open trophy fixture at The Oval on June 7, followed by the game against South Africa three days later at Edgbaston before the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India, also at Edgbaston, on June 15.

Probable squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez (vice-captain), Nasir Jamshed, Imran Farhat, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Ali, Ehsan Adil, Aizaz Cheema/Hammad Azam/Umar Amin.