Pakistan cricket plunged into new crisis with Inzamam-ul Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood and Imran Farhat finalising deals to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League.
One of the players, on condition of anonymity, said the deal is done, but the ICL has restricted them from making any announcements.
"The signings will be announced by the ICL themselves this week. We are not supposed to disclose anything," he said.
However, a Pakistan Cricket Board official refused to believe that these players have signed the ICL contracts.
"I can understand Azhar Mahmood, Inzamam or even Farhat signing to play in the ICL, but I doubt it if Yousuf and Razzaq would sign up because they are still leading players for us and certain selections for our Test and one-day teams," the official said.
Razzaq, Azhar and Inzamam are in London at the moment and were not available for their comment.
The Pakistani selectors had dropped Razzaq and Yousuf for the Twenty20 World Cup, in South Africa next month.
Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is the first Pakistani player to sign up to play in the rebel league.
Earlier, Inzamam's father had confirmed that his son had indeed signed up for the ICL.
"He is in London where he has to gone to play for Yorkshire. But, yes, he has signed with the ICL. That is what he told me when I last spoke to him," he said.
The PCB has said it will not consider any player who is contracted to them for future selection if he plays in the Indian league.