LAHORE, March 29: While pacemen Umar Gul and Rao Iftikhar have cleared medical tests, Mohammad Asif is not available on medical grounds for the first two One-day Internationals of the five-match home series against Bangladesh.

“We have received the NOCs from the PCB doctor, clearing both Umar Gul and Rao Iftikhar for the series. But Mohammad Asif may be available for the last two ODIs,” chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters after finalising a 16-member team for the series starting on April 8.

The squad will be announced on Sunday after the approval of PCB chief Dr Nasim Ashraf.

The Bangladesh squad will arrive in Pakistan on April 6 for the ODI series and a Twenty20.

Umar, who has remained in and out of the team since making his international debut against Zimbabwe at Sharjah in April 2003 before playing his first Test against India at Lahore the same year, due to his back problem, made his last ODI appearance against India at Jaipur last November.

Umar, who has featured in 16 Tests (67 wickets) and 39 ODIs (49 wickets) so far, is likely to be included in the 16-member team.

“Both Umar and Rao have been declared fit by the PCB doctor Sohail and trainer David Dwyer, so their names were considered for the selection,” Salahuddin said.

Asif, he added, who has been recovering from an elbow injury after an operation, failed to get the doctor’s clearance. However, Salahuddin stated, the fast bowler was likely to get fit for the last two one-dayers.

About Shoaib Akhtar, the chief selector said the paceman could only be considered after the PCB disciplinary committee cleared him.

Shoaib, facing the indiscipline charges of criticising the PCB in public, will face the disciplinary committee in Rawalpindi on April 1. If cleared, the enigmatic pacer may be considered for the last two ODIs of the Bangladesh series.

Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson also attended the selection committee meeting for the first time.

“We also took input from the coach and had a chat with Shoaib Malik over telephone, before finalising the team,” he said.

If performance in the recently held first-class competition is the criterion for selection, then Bazid Khan and Yasir Hameed have chances to be included in the 16-member squad.

Likely squad: Shoaib Malik (captain), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Bazid Khan, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Rao Iftikhar, Yasir Arafat, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Fawad Alam.