Troubled Pakistani fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been included in their country's 30-man preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy.
Both players have recently run foul of the Pakistan Cricket Board, with Shoaib banned for 18 months for disciplinary reasons, and Asif the subject of an internal inquiry after being detained in Dubai for 19 days over a drug-related incident.
Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed, however, confirmed the pair had been included in their preliminary squad for the September tournament, which is being held in Pakistan.
"Obviously their final selection is subject to their 100 percent match fitness and form later on and the board," he said.
Shoaib was banned for five years in April by the PCB for disciplinary reasons, but had the ban reduced to 18 months on appeal in June.
Last week a court in Lahore suspended the ban until it made a decision on whether to hear Shoaib's legal challenge of the PCB's actions. It is expected to make a decision in September.
Asif, who only recently returned to playing after six months out with an elbow injury, is facing a PCB internal inquiry after he was stopped at Dubai airport for allegedly carrying a small quantity of contraband.
Dubai officials described the contraband as a recreational drug, but prosecutors decided against laying charges.
Asif has denied using recreational or performance enhancing drugs, but the PCB is still conducting their own inquiry.
"We and the board have the highest respect for the court's directive as far as Shoaib is concerned while Asif's case is being handled by the board committee," Ahmed said.
