HYDERABAD, Sept 7 It is increasingly becoming clear that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is playing 'musical chair' of sorts to decide on the post of Niaz Stadium's manager.

As per job's advertisement, the PCB requires a “dynamic individual” between 35 to 45 years of age with a bachelor's degree for the post of stadium's manager in Hyderabad to replace Yar Mohammad Solangi, the former manager of Pakistan cricket team.

The individuals who have applied for the post from Hyderabad include Abdul Hussain Shah, former Regional Development Manager (RDM) PCB, Tanvir Naqi and Karamat Rajput, a former first class cricketer and ex-Hyderabad team skipper of 1999 in Quaid-i-Azam Trophy grade-I.

Interestingly, the PCB has found a new method to find this 'dynamic' individual by conducting 'telephonic interviews” of the applicants.

Karamat Rajput got a telephone call out of the blue from PCB's General Manager HR, Asad Mustafa while he was asleep a few days back. He was asked to get ready for a brief interview in which he was asked to share his cricketing experience and management skills. Similar phone call was made to Tanvir Naqi for an interview. He has lots of management experience but he is, apparently, not being considered by the PCB for the said post.

This indicates that the Board has made up its mind on the candidate and is just going through formalities. As things stand, Asad Mustafa is said to be putting his weight behind one of the candidates, Hussain Shah for some inexplicable reasons.

Shah, a former employee of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), has recently been reinstated under a presidential ordinance with all back benefits.

The final decision is to be taken by PCB chairman Ijaz Butt but since strong lobbies are given preference over merit in the cricket board, the efforts are on to choose a man of choice rather than selecting someone on merit.

In this regard the name of former RDM and present aspirant Mir Haider Talpur is in circulation though he has passed the age limit required for the applicant and had to leave the PCB amidst certain charges a while back.