In yet another bizarre twist to Pakistani cricket, the PCB chief steps down from his position on a day when their political president also steps down and the strange part is Gen. Musharaf’s resignation had everything to do with this. Are we looking at some sworn loyalty syndrome? Or is there a lot that meets the eye in terms of his relationship and personal fortunes with the patron-in-chief?

Whatever may be, it could well be the light at the end of the tunnel for Pakistan with respect to cricket, when it was getting increasingly murkier with gross spineless management.

One can hardly take him seriously looking at the number of bizarre flip-flops decision made when he was at the helm. Nevertheless, his flip-flops would uniquely make him remembered in the cricketing circles and hopefully, Pakistan would hire some good administrators and sort out all their cricketing issues.

Compiled a list of flip-flops under his tenure from the cricinfo site:

Mushtaq Ahmed: Soon after coming to power, sacked Mushtaq as assistant coach, citing Justice Qayyum report that pointed to his links with match-fixing. Re-hired him soon after for World Cup 2007

General staff: Sacked 80 PCB staff, and then promptly re-hired them

Doping tribunal: Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were banned after they were found guilty of using steroids, only for the decision to be overturned within a month despite both admitting usage, after an appellate tribunal was set up

Constitution: Promised PCB’s constitution would be ready within a month of his appointment. Changed the date three times, and kept on extending it until it was finally ready in January 2008, some 14 months after the original promise

Resignation: Handed in his resignation during World Cup 2007, withdrew it about a week later after it was rejected by the patron

Foreign coach: Said specifically after World Cup 2007 in a press conference that no foreign coach would be appointed for Pakistan. Appointed Geoff Lawson a few months later

Younis Khan: Said, after Younis Khan had turned down the captaincy, that he would not be made captain again. Yet for Pakistan’s tour to India in end-2007, personally appointed Younis vice-captain - he became captain when Shoaib Malik got injured.

ICL
Announced no player in the ICL would be allowed to play for Pakistan or in Pakistan domestic cricket. Except Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was allowed to play a one-off Test as farewell and reportedly given a Rs 1 crore golden handshake for it

Announced Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Mushtaq would not be given NOCs to play county cricket because of their ICL links. Yet both were given one soon after

Promised Mohammad Yousuf that he would play in the IPL, having paid him to come out of his ICL contract. Currently the matter is stuck in legal limbo forcing Yousuf to miss the first season of both leagues

And can we forget this episode which is still raging and puzzling cricket fans all over the world

Shoaib Akhtar: The board stated publicly that Shoaib didn’t have to pay any fine in order play in the Champions Trophy, only to then say three days later that actually he does.

Whatever!!