KARACHI: Just two months after being sacked as Pakistan chief selector, former Test cricketer Haroon Rasheed may return to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as Director Cricket Operations, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported on Thursday.

“Haroon has applied for the new position being created in the cricket set-up which has undergone some changes after the national teams’ disappointing show in the Asia Cup and World T20 in India,” PTI quoted a source as saying.

“He is a strong contender for the new post since he is very close to some of the senior officials in the board including the head of the executive committee Najam Sethi.”

Pakistan failed to put up a decent show in Asia Cup T20 in Bangladesh and World T20 in India, making it difficult for head coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi to retain their roles.

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Waqar resigned from the helm of the Pakistan team management on April 4 following the team’s humiliating exit in group stages of the World T20, with Afridi also following suit.

PCB had formulated a fact-finding committee to look into the team’s defeat. Acting on the committee’s recommendations, the board had released Haroon and other members of the selection committee from employment.

The new changes in the board structure also saw former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq returning to national colours as chief selector, Mickey Arthur as head coach and former Test player Mudassar Nazar as Director Academies.

“Haroon is a strong contender since he is very keen to get back into the PCB and the new post is advertised keeping him in mind,” PTI quoted the source as saying.

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“The advertisement to hire Director Cricket Operations was only posted so that Haroon could be hired as he meets all the stipulated conditions required for the position including having 10 years or more experience of having worked in top cricket positions.”

The source told PTI that Sethi had opposed Haroon’s sacking when chairman Shaharyar Khan hinted at making some changes in the cricket set-up.

“Recently at the Board of Governors meeting when the issue of hiring a new Director Cricket Operations came up and Haroon’s name was mentioned, Shaharyar didn’t support giving him another shot at any post in the PCB but majority of the members said if he applied he should be considered,” the source revealed.