Shattered hopes

Pakistan cricket remains mired in this seemingly endless things-getting-worse phase as people at the helm of Pakistan's cricket affairs continue committing the same mistakes again and again writes Khalid Hussain in the News. And the latest such decision is to recall Misbah ul Haq out of nowhere and install him as Pakistan's Test captain for the series against South Africa in next month while snubbing Younis Khan once again.

Misbah was touted as a future captain after scoring prolifically on the 2007 tour of India but is yet to prove his leadership ability. In contrast, Younis Khan inspires a lot more trust. The 32-year-old may not have played for Pakistan since the catastrophic tour of Australia but nobody can argue the fact that he is one of Pakistan's most prolific Test batsmen.

But people at the helm of Pakistan's cricket affairs will tell you that Younis needs a 'clearance' to get selected for national duty. What clearance? Has he been accused of fixing matches? Has he used or carried illegal drugs? Has he beaten up a team-mate?

Writing in the Dawn Khalid H. Khan says the decision to bring back Misbah as Pakistan’s fourth Test captain this year has put an end to all talks of rebuilding the Pakistan cricket team with an eye on the future.

It is a clear indication that selections were done in a bid to make up for the blunders committed in the past. According to Mohsin, Younis was the first-choice on the selectors’ list to bolster the middle-order batting but that choice, given the rotten state of PCB chairman Ijaz Butt’s mind, was vetoed.