Karachi: In a major flip-flop, the Pakistan Cricket Board has reinstated former Test leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed as assistant coach of the South Africa-bound team.

Mushtaq's reinstatement came just three months after PCB Chairman Naseem Ashraf had unceremoniously removed him a day after taking over the reins from Shaharyar Khan ahead of the Champions Trophy in India.

Ashraf announced in Lahore that Mushtaq was back as the assistant coach because his cricketing knowledge had impressed him and he was sure the leg-spinner could do lot of good work with the team.

But insiders say things were not so simple and in fact captain Inzamam-ul Haq, soon after winning the home series against the West Indies, made his views very clear about having Mushtaq back. The close friendship between Inzamam and Mushtaq is no secret while they have both also shown a growing tendency towards religion in recent times.

Mushtaq infact was first attached with the team first as bowling consultant and than as assistant bowling coach for the home series against England and India in the 2005-06 on the insistence of Inzamam after he failed to win a place in the team in the presence of young leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

"This is a clear case of favouritism and Inzamam promoting his own people. On what grounds has the Board appointed Mushtaq as assistant coach when he does not have any required coaching qualifications or experience for the job.

"He, in fact, had been playing cricket till recently for Sussex," one former player said on the condition of anonimity.