PCB keenly watching Presidential poll

When Pakistan reached the semi-finals and final of the Twenty20 World Cup, Musharraf, despite his political problems, took time out to call captain Shoaib Malik in South Africa and wish him well.

Even when the talk of a growing ‘Talibinization’ culture in the team became serious during Inzamam-ul Haq’s captaincy, Musharraf held a reception for the players in which he is said to have rebuffed the players for mixing religion with sports.

And last month when Shoaib Akhtar was sent back from South Africa for having a row with Mohammad Asif, Musharraf made it a point to tell the Board there should be no compromise on discipline.

Historically, politicians, General’s and bureaucrats have always clamored for top positions in the PCB and the head of state by virtue of being the Board’s chief patron has always held the big card in one of the richest and most powerful sports bodies in the country.

Musharraf is no different and since 1999 he has had three of his close aides head the board with Lt General (Retd) Tauqir Zia enjoying the longest tenure from 1999 to 2003.

And like other leaders before him, Musharraf has not shied away from using “cricket diplomacy” to better ties with India.

He made it a point to invite the Indian Prime Minister to watch India’s matches in Pakistan in 2004 and had former foreign secretary Shaharyar Khan, who headed the PCB, to get high profile Indian politicians to be seen at these matches.

Musharraf himself was at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium two years ago to watch Pakistan play and his pictures with Manmohan Singh grabbed headlines.

It is also said that after 9/11 some of the foreign teams might not have toured Pakistan due to the security situation had it not been for the direct interest taken by the President himself.

Unfortunately result wise, Musharraf or rather the team has not been lucky for him because some of Pakistans worst performances have come in his tenure.

The low point was when Pakistan was bowled out for 59 and 53 by Australia in Sharjah in 2002 and the two first round exits from the World Cups in 2003 and 2007. There have also been a number of internal problems within the Board and the team.

But there is no doubt that Musharraf like his tolerant policy towards the Pakistani media has also been patient with his appointees in the Board and his latest choice Nasim Ashraf would be keeping his fingers crossed that his benefactor remains in power.

Because in Pakistan, political changes always certainly lead to changes in the cricket set-up.