Sohail sacked, Bari

National Selection Committee (NSC) chairman Aamir Sohail was today sacked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and replaced with another form...

National Selection Committee (NSC) chairman Aamir Sohail was today sacked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and replaced with another former cricketer, Wasim Bari, even as the country gears up to host eternal rivals India in March. A PCB press release here said former Test captain Wasim Bari had been appointed as chairman of the NSC.

Iqbal Qasim, Sultan Rana and Ehtshamuddin were named as the new members of the panel which has been asked to take on its responsibilities immediately. Qasim, who is the convener of the Junior Selection Committee, will act as a link between the senior and junior committees, it said.

The announcement coincided with the arrival of the national cricket team from New Zealand where the team enjoyed mixed success, winning the Test series 1-0 while losing the one-day series 4-1.

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Bari had quit as chief selector after the debacle suffered by the team in the World Cup last year. The then PCB chief, Gen (Retd) Tauqir Zia, appointed tough-talking Sohail as the chief selector while also reappointing former batsman Javed Miandad as the coach and another former cricketer Ramiz Raja as the chief executive of the Board.

However, strains were visible in the new set-up as Sohail and coach Javed Miandad openly quarrelled over selection recently when New Zealand were touring the country.

Things came to boil as Inzamam-ul Haq, who replaced Rashid Latif as captain, joined Miandad and snubbed Sohail, who was considered to be personally close to Zia.

Sohail appeared isolated when Zia suddenly quit two months ago citing personal reasons. Zia was replaced by former diplomat Shaharyar Khan in a bid to clear up the mess well before the much-awaited cricket series at home with India.

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PCB sources said the return of Bari could change the complexion of the team with some of the old greats like Waqar Younis getting a chance to play again. (PTI)