KARACHI: Deposed Pakistan bowling coach Mohammad Akram was included in an expanded six-member national selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which was announced on Thursday.

Former Test batsmen Shoaib Mohammad, Ijaz Ahmed and Wajahatullah Wasti along with former Test wicket-keeper Saleem Yousuf will be the other members of the panel which is being headed by ex-Pakistan captain Moin Khan who would also function as the team manager.

In a brief media release, the PCB stated: “The PCB has announced a six-member selection committee comprising the best cricketing talent available on a representative basis.”

The PCB think tank finalised the committee after taking the input from the chief selector who is in already in Lahore.

Akram, 39, who was initially hired as the Pakistan bowling coach on a year contract in August 2012 during Zaka Ashraf’s regime, signed a new two-year deal with the PCB soon after Zaka was temporarily reinstated as the cricket board chairman in January.

With the PCB hoping to hire former captain Waqar Younis as the head coach for a second stint, it is certain Akram — who reportedly have appropriate connections in the corridors of power — was always likely to be axed from that position.

The PCB, without making any official announcement, has mentioned Akram in its media release as head coach of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.

“Given Waqar’s credentials as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the game’s history, it would have been ridiculous to have Akram in the support staff as the bowling coach,” sources said.

“With the removal of Akram as the bowling coach, the signs are obvious that the PCB has decided to go for Waqar as the next head coach.”

Shoaib, who was fielding coach during the recently held Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh, has served as national selector twice in the past when Aamir Sohail was the head of the committee in 2003 and again during the period when Pakistan won the World Twenty20 title in England in 2009 with legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir acting as the chief selector.

Ijaz, who is the fielding coach at the NCA, has been included in the panel for the first time.

Wajahatullah, who figured in six Tests and 15 One-day Internationals in a 14-month international career from February 1999, is being inducted into the selection committee for the first time.

The new selection committee is expected to meet soon to finalise the list of players for the month-long high intensity camp that starts in Lahore on May 6.