LAHORE The Pakistan Cricket Board has once again appointed former Test captain Intikhab Alam as manager of the national team for the series against South Africa. In other developments, former Test cricketer Ijaz Ahmed has been sacked as assistant coach of the team. However, opener Imran Farhat, despite criticisms from all quarters for his extended poor run, remains part of the team. Middle order batsman Misbah-ul-Haq has also staged a come back in the team while wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal has been rested and Zulqarnain Haider has been recalled. The decision was taken in a meeting between PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt and Intikhab Alam, it has been learnt. Misbah returned to the national squad for the upcoming ODI and Twenty20 series against South Africa in the UAE. Reports said that former manager Yawar Saeed, who stepped aside from the post after troubled tour of England, would be given an important job and most likely replace Intikhab at the National Cricket Academy. It was under Yawar that Pakistan gave a dismal performance and spot-fixing allegations were levelled against three players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif. Butt and Alam are known to be close friends and this could have been the reason why the chairman preferred him over new faces. Alam was named coach in October 2008 and helped the Pakistan team win ICC World T20 in England, but after a shambolic tour to Australia early this year, he was replaced by Waqar Younis. Misbah last played an ODI for Pakistan in September 2009 and his latest international appearance was in the Caribbean during the World Twenty20 this year. Pakistan, however, have not yet named a captain for series, though Shahid Afridi, who led them in the limited-overs games in England, has been picked in the squad. Pakistan squad: Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Shoaib Akhtar, Tanveer Ahmed, Zulqarnain Haider. Team management: Intikhab Alam (Team Manager), Waqar Younis (Coach), Aaqib Javed (Bowling Coach), Faisal Hayat (Physiotherapist), Saboor Ahmed (Trainer), Shahid Aslam (Assistant Manager), Mohammad Talha Butt (Analyst) and Muhammad Akhtar (Masseur).