PCB appoint Bari as interim chief selector

Islamabad:

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday named former Test cricketer Wasim Bari as chief of the interim selection committee for the tour of Sri Lanka.

"Wasim Bari has been appointed as interim chairman of the selection committee to select the Pakistan cricket team for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour only," the PCB said in a statement.

Bari, 61, is presently serving as director of human resources at the PCB. He played 81 test matches as wicketkeeper for Pakistan between 1967-84.

Last week, ex-test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir resigned as chief selector and blaming meddling by PCB officials for his sudden departure after just six months.

Pakistan is due to tour Sri Lanka later this month for three Test matches, five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 game.

Two other former test cricketers, Salim Jaffar and Shoaib Mohammad, are still on the selection committee, however, they will not be consulted regarding team selection for the Sri Lanka tour.

"Coach, captain and the vice-captain of the Pakistan team will be the interim members on the (selection) committee for the Sri Lanka tour only," the PCB statement said.

"Final approval of the team will be given by the chairman PCB (Ijaz Butt)."

Qadir had complained that coach Intikhab Alam had more power in choosing the squad than the selectors.

Pakistan qualified for the semifinals of the World Twenty20 in England on Monday after defeating Ireland by 39 runs.