In June 2009, Bari was named as the interim chief selector of the Pakistan national cricket team.
[1] His talent was first recognised in 1967 with members of the England under-25 team stating that he was the best keeper to come out of South Asia.
Imran Khan, who persuaded Wasim Bari from retiring earlier, believed he was as good as Knott.
Wasim Bari captained Pakistan in 6 Test matches and five one-day internationals, all of them against England home and away, at a time when Pakistan was deprived of some of its best and most recognisable players, such as Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Majid Khan and Mushtaq Mohammed, by Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket.
He was caught up in the middle of a controversy during the tour to England regarding the growing practice of short-pitched bowling at tailender batsmen after Iqbal Qasim was forced to retire hurt after being hit by Bob Willis in the first Test at Birmingham.