Mushtaq back as 'Assistant Coach'

From TheNews.com.pk...

Less than three months after sacking him, Dr Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has reappointed Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan leg-spinner, as assistant coach for the tour to South Africa, set to begin from Tuesday (tomorrow).

Mushtaq had been removed from the post hours before the Pakistan team left for the Champions Trophy in October, one of Ashraf’s first moves upon taking over the chairmanship of the board.

At the time, he was deemed as “irrelevant staff” by Ashraf, though speculation centred around a combination of his close friendship with Inzamam-ul-Haq and his implication in Justice Qayyum’s report on match-fixing.

But at a press conference in Lahore, Ashraf said Mushtaq was capable of serving the team. “Mushtaq has impressed me a lot with his cricketing knowledge and I think he can be a better choice for the South African tour,” he said.

Mushtaq is expected to remain with the team through the whole tour, while Waqar Younis, the bowling coach, will return home after the Tests.

Nothing exceptionally newsworthy about this announcement except for the fact that it shows how disorganised and fickle the PCB really is. Mushtaq was fired from his position a few months ago, and now he's back again! What happened to him being hurt and angry? I don't know if the board has any real long term plans and strategies. It all seems a bit idiotic.

And what is the point of having a bowling coach for just the tests? According to reports, the PCB has made arrangements for Waqar to return after the test series is complete. What's the point? Are they getting cheaper airfares by having him take an earlier flight? The ODI format may be shorter, but I'm sure his presence can only help our squad. It can't possibly harm them can it? I doubt Waqar is not going to be too happy about this. Judging by how Pakistan usually operates, this is probably just a scheme to irk Waqar and remove him from the coaching staff. Naeem Ashraf, so far, is quite the instigator.

Personnel management at the PCB has always been atrocious. Cronies make their way to the top, and these guys pull up their nearest and dearest. It's about time that Pakistan had professionals in charge of their cricketing infrastructure rather than ex-cricketers, generals and Musharraf's poker buddies.