LAHORE - The incompetent top brass of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) always remain perplexed while it is to take right decision at right time and mostly make the board a house of laughing stock. With its latest saga of handling the Younus Khan issue yet again has exposed this incompetency, who has been allowed, disallowed and again allowed to play in Pakistan Cup after a series of bizarre apologies.

Younus, who breached the PCB code of conduct by questioning an umpiring decision, showing dissent and threatening an umpire in a Pakistan Cup match played in Faisalabad and alter refused to appear before match referee for disciplinary hearing and was fined by the referee. A usual agitating Younus deserted his team Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and left the Pakistan Cup in the middle. The abrupt decision of the board was to take action against Younus’ violation and to impose a fine and ban on him. Violation is a violation and in the cricket fraternity, the issue was widely discussed and the current and former cricketers as well as cricket experts termed the decision right as rules violator, either he is senior or junior, must be punished.

But as soon as Younus called PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, he changed his heart and decided to forgive the senior batsman and allowed him to rejoin his team. As soon as the PCB announced to forgive Younus, the former cricketers including Javed Miandad, Abdul Qadir and former umpire Mahboob Shah lashed out at the cricket board demanding a stern action against the PCB code violator. This once again forced the board to change its decision, which later issued a show cause notice to Younus and said Pakistan Cup was over for the veteran batsman.

And the very next day Younus again tendered his apology to the PCB which melted the hearts of PCB chairmen, who, going against their earlier decisions, decided to allow Younus to participate in the Pakistan Cup. The PCB top brass mostly takes decisions in haste, never giving second thought to what they are going to speak. They must follow the proverb ‘think before you speak’ if they want to avoid severe criticism which they face due to their hasty decisions.

In the recent statement issued by the PCB, the board has accepted Younus' apology for showing dissent during the Pakistan Cup in Faisalabad and his subsequent abandonment of his team and refusal to attend a disciplinary hearing.

Following the acceptance of his second apology, Younus may now rejoin the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa squad should the team qualify for the final of the Pakistan Cup, the statement added. And as the team had qualified for the final, Younus is likely to once again lead his team.

If the PCB continues such behaviour with senior players, allowing them to continue to play despite breaching the board’s code of conduct, then it will be too tough for it to maintain the discipline at domestic and national team level, as juniors too will start following the seniors.

Umar Akmal cleared of brawl charges in theatre case: Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal was cleared of suspected brawl charges in a theatre case. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) found no concrete proof against Akmal, who along with Bilawal Bhatti, Awais Zia and Shahid Yousuf were reportedly involved in a fight.

Media reports had suggested Umar along with the aforementioned cricketers were involved in a brawl at a theatre in Faisalabad. Rumours suggested that the cricketers demanded for a song to be replayed and after being refused, created a scene at the theatre.

There was CCTV footage of Umar continuing with his demand, but the theatre authorities did not agree which led to the players misbehaving with the authorities. Later, the wicket-keeper batsman denied the allegations and asked the media to keep a distance from his private life.

Umar is no new to controversies. He was banned for one match after breaching the code of conduct during the final of the Quaid-e-Azam earlier this year. In 2014, he also escaped a punishment when he was reportedly caught in a dance party.

In 2016 World T20, he complained Imran Khan on the subject of his the batting position given to him by then head coach, Waqar Younis. Now, it is believed that due to the recent controversy, Umar, who is only selected for Twenty20s, will not be counted for the upcoming one-off T20 match against England.