LAHORE: Former Test batsman Talat Ali is likely be the next manager of the Pakistan team which will tour the West Indies from next month, well-informed sources told Dawn on Tuesday.

Talat will replace former Test captain Wasim Bari, who has been relieved after being team manager during Pakistan’s last three series — against the West Indies in UAE, followed by tours of New Zealand and Australia.

Bari was appointed as manager in place of another ex-Pakistan skipper Intikhab Alam. If Talat gets the job, it will be third managerial change in the last five months.

The 66-year-old Talat had previously served as team manager from 2006 to 2008 during the tenure of Dr Nasim Ashraf as the PCB chairman when Bob Woolmer was the head coach.

A few months after Woolmer’s death in mysterious circumstances during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, Talat also worked alongside Geoff Lawson when the ex-Australian paceman was appointed Pakistan coach.

Talat resigned when Ijaz Butt replaced Dr Nasim as PCB chairman in 2008, which saw Lawson being sacked.

Talat played 10 Tests in the 1970s as opening batsman and scored 370 runs at 23.12.

Pakistan will play West Indies in three Tests, three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 Intern­ationals from March 31 to May 14.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2017