Karachi, Sep 7 - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Wasim Bari, a close friend of board president Ijaz Butt, as the new chief operating officer Monday.

'The governing board of PCB through resolution by circulation, has appointed Wasim Bari as chief operating officer of PCB with immediate effect,' a PCB statement said.

Former Pakistan captain Bari was named as the interim chief operating officer after Saleem Altaf was sacked from the post by the PCB last week. A former Pakistan captain, Bari had been working as PCB's director administration and human resources. Bari has served as chief selector twice in the past.

Urdu dailies Jang and Express reported that Bari was given a senior position in the PCB because of his proximity with Butt.

Since his appointment as PCB chairman, Butt has handpicked several of his friends and relatives for key positions in the board. Earlier this year, senate's standing committee on sports probed into allegations of nepotism against Butt and later recommended that he should be replaced as PCB chairman.