Former Test wicketkeeper Wasim Bari will take take over as director of human resources for the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Bari replaces Nadeem Akram, sacked after Ijaz Butt was appointed chairman of the PCB last month.

Bari's first task is likely to be to dismiss several of the staff appointed by former chairman Nasim Ashraf as the governing body looks to reduce its costs.

"Needless appointments made to the board would be terminated to reduce the overall expenditures," Bari told Geo TV.

PCB chief executive officer Saleem Altaf reports an overhaul of the PCB workforce is imperative.

The move has been further prompted by the financial drain the PCB has suffered in the past 12 months, when several countries have refused to tour the strife-torn nation because of security concerns.

"There are two major problems we are facing," said Altaf.

"One is a surplus of staff hired by the PCB on hefty salaries. The other is teams' refusal to tour Pakistan.

"So in effect we have incurred huge expenses without earning any income.

"In these uncertain times, the PCB is spending far too much money on capital expenditure. Our task first of all is to cut costs.

"All the regional heads are asked by the chairman to cut the administrative cost by 50%. All other costs have to go down automatically.

"We are in the age of recession, and the people who have got no business with the game will have to go."

Altaf added the decision to lay off people will be made in conjunction with Butt.

"All the divisional heads will be asked to review the people working under them and then make a decision," he confirmed.