LAHORE: As expected, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced former Test wicketkeeper Wasim Bari as manager of the nati­onal team, with former Test captain Intikhab Alam relieved from the job on Friday.

It is a new role for Bari who has thrice been chief selector while also being the Chief Operating Officer and Director Human Resources in the PCB during the tenure of Ijaz Butt from 2008 to 2011.

“Mr. Intikhab Alam’s contract with PCB as team manager is concluding this month,” the PCB said in a news release on Friday.

“The PCB would like to express its thanks and appreciation to Mr. Alam for his contribution to the Pakistan Cricket Team. The team has received a lot of plaudits for their conduct on the recent tour of England and was appreciated as positive ambassadors of their country.

“Mr. Alam’s role as head of the Pakistan contingent was key to the PCB’s efforts to ensure an incident free Tour of England. Former Test captain Wasim Bari will take over as the national team manager for the West Indies series in UAE.”

It is unclear if Intikhab’s long innings with the PCB, which started during Dr Nasim Ashraf’s tenure, has ended.

He was included with another fellow Test cricketer Butt in the Board of Governors in 2007 on the quota of two seats reserved for Test cricketers, which has since been abolished.

During this nine-year long association, Intikhab has performed as head coach, manager and Director Domestic cricket.

Intikhab, Pakistan first One-day International captain, was the team manager both times when Pakistan have won their world titles — in the 1992 World Cup and the 2009 World Twenty20.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2016