Bari replaces Sohail as Pakistan's chief selector

Aamer Sohail has been sacked as the chairman of Pakistan's national selection committee. Wasim Bari, a former Pakistan wicketkeeper, has been appointed as his replacement. Bari will head a panel that also consists of Iqbal Qasim, Sultan Rana and Ehtshamuddin. Qasim is also the convenor of the junior selection committee, and will be the link between the two committees.

Bari had served as chief selector earlier, but was sacked following Pakistan's poor performance in the 2003 World Cup. Tauqir Zia, then the chief of Pakistan's board, had out a new team in charge of Pakistan cricket, with Sohail being chief selector, Rameez Raja being the chief executive and Javed Miandad being the coach.

Strong divisions surfaced within this new team, however, with Sohail and Miandad squabbling openly and Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan's captain, taking Miandad's side. Sohail was considered close to Zia, but his pitch in the extablishment was queered when Zia abruptly quit two months ago, and was replaced by Shaharyar Khan, a former diplomat.

Bari's reinstatement is expected to affect the composition of the team, and there is even the possibility that Waqar Younis may make yet another comeback.