LAHORE, Nov 21: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday formally appointed former googly bowler Abdul Qadir and ex-Test opener Mohammad Ilyas as chief selectors of the senior and junior selection committees respectively.

Qadir, a veteran of 67 Test and 104 One-day Internationals, will be assisted by former Test medium-fast Salim Jaffer and ex-opener Shoaib Mohammad who were retained as selectors.

Ilyas, who played ten Test matches for Pakistan between 1964 and 1969, will head a six-member junior selection committee. Ilyas has replaced Col. Naushad Ali, who had been heading a five-member committee. Five other members of the junior selection committee are former Test players Basit Ali (Karachi) and Furrukh Zaman (Peshawar), first-class player Ali Ahmad (Lahore) and Afzal Gujar (Hyderabad).

Basit had played 19 Tests and 50 ODIs for Pakistan while Ali Ahmad has experience of some 93 first class matches to his credit. All of the selectors are full time, paid members.

The junior selection committee will be responsible to select all junior teams like Under-19, U-17, U-15 and academy teams. The senior committee will select the Pakistan and Pakistan ‘A’ squads.

Later talking to reporters, Qadir said that he would introduce a new plan of selection as the previous one was flawed. “My new plan will come before the public in one week and I assure you that a common man will also understand how a player is selected,” Qadir said.

However, when asked if the selectors would also select the playing XI for all the matches, Qadir shied away from giving a clear reply. “The chairman has given the selectors a free hand and we will be equally responsible for any poor show or defeat. Every one will have to respect the decisions of the selectors,” he emphasised.

When reminded about Shoaib’s demand that the final selection of the playing XI should rest with the skipper, Qadir again avoided to give a clear answer and said team work should be of prime value everywhere.

Commenting on the selection of maverick fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, Qadir said if fit the fast bowler could be an asset and no one could take his place.

“But Shoaib has to ensure hundred per cent fitness to get a place in the national side as half-fit players cannot deliver,” he said.

About the forthcoming home series against India, Qadir said he would soon be meeting the team management to discuss various matters before finalising the team for the challenging series.

Junior team chief selector Ilyas said grooming at least four young players for the national team’s World Cup 2011 line-up was his prime target while he will also be looking for talent which could hold Pakistan in good stead during the Junior World Cup. He said merit would be maintained in such a away that no one will be able to raise a finger.