LAHORE, Jan 3: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shaharyar M. Khan, on Saturday suspended the selection of the Pakistan squad picked for Under-17 Asia Cup after observing alleged inclusion of close relatives of the members of selection committee and district organisations in the selection process in which many deserving candidates were overlooked.

The squad, announced on Friday by chief selector Aamir Sohail, was scheduled to compete in the junior tournament in India from Jan 13.

In an official PCB statement, Shaharyar said: "I am ordering an immediate suspension of the selected team pendingreceipt of declarations of interest and an immediate review ofaffected players by the chief executive. The selection of affected players would be confirmed only after they are seen to merit selection by the chief executive (Ramiz Raja) through an independent committee.

"It appears that my publicly declared emphasis on merit and transparency has not been fully understood and that someclose relatives of the members of the selection committee and officials of district organizations have been included in thePakistan squad for the under-17 tournament in India.

" While fully supporting the selection process but in order not to transgressthe demands of transparency that areliable to bring into question the integrity of the selection and the PCB, I am calling immediately for a declaration of interests from the selectors and the selected players regarding close family relationship.

"While I appreciate that family influence is a major factor in developing young talent and that sons and nephewsof established cricketing families should not be penalised, transparency demands that such connection shall be declaredin advance.Accordingly, I am ordering an immediate suspension of the selected team," the press statement concluded.

Meanwhile, when contacted Aamir Sohail denied that thePCB chairman expressed his displeasure and no confidence on the selection committee.

" The chairman took charge recently and it may be that he received some complaints from certain quarters which prompted him to take action. Furthermore, the chairman has the authority to take notice of any complaints, so let them check," he said.

Aamir claimed that the entire team was selected on merit and he had been working as chief selector honestly.

He admittedthat the issue was raised on the selection of Fahad Zaman, who incidentally is the son of Farrukh Zaman, amember of selection committee.

Aamir declared that Fahad was not a blue-eyed boy ofthe selection committee as he had been selected byprevious junior selection committee, headed by Zaheer Abbas, some 18 months ago.

Aamirsaid that he had talked to the PCB chairman on the issue and added there was no sign of no-confidence on him.

PCB is likely to form a five-member selection committeeto review the selection of the under-17 team.

"The chairman is free to check the genuineness of thisteam from any quarter and as far as I am concerned I picked the team purely on merit," Aamir reiterated.

Hesaid that among the 14-member team only three new faces were picked and from the rest, eight had represented thecountry in last Under-15 Asia Cup which Pakistan won and three Pakistan Under-19 team. "The selection committee has decided to give priority to those players on which PCB had made investment."

Asked if he plans to tender his resignation in protest, he blurted out: "Let them recheck the genuineness of the team and then I will take a decision about the future."

Hesaid that Saleem Yousuf, a member of the committee was unable to watch the trials due to his engagements with hisdepartment.

When contacted Ramiz Raja said that he would take the matter up when the PCB offices open on Monday.