The double withdrawal comes just five months after the pair tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone and were banned by their national board before an appeal panel cleared them to play again.

Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami will be sent as their replacements.

Shoaib, who has played only one test and four one-dayers since February 2006 due to fitness concerns, has not recovered from the knee injury that forced him to be sent back from South Africa last month.

Asif has been carrying a niggling elbow problem since that tour and the pair were receiving treatment in London.

The loss of the new-ball pair, coupled with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq's withdrawal, is a setback to Pakistan's hopes before their opening match against hosts West Indies on the first day of the tournament on March 13.