Relishing a well-deserved break these days, Misbah-ul-Haq is calm. No surprises, he stays the same on the field. Turbulence, however, may not be that far from the Pakistan captain, it has been reliably learnt.

In the foreground, these are hiring days in Pakistan cricket. An expanded selection committee has been appointed to work under Moin Khan who has also been given the portfolio of national team manager; advertisements were given for national team coaching staff who are going to perhaps be named in the coming weeks. A few names are circulating for the post of T20 captain, lying vacant after Mohammad Hafeez's exit. The names of Shahid Afridi and even young opener Ahmed Shehzad have popped up as possible candidates.

But wait please. These are all mere foreground developments, known to all and sundry — far away from the background ‘events’ which somehow have unfortunately remained almost a permanent and profound, at times decisive, element of the Pakistan cricket set-up.

Also read: Sethi backs Misbah, rejects Moin's claims

Some of these back-channel developments are alarming to say the least. Misbah, who dares disagree, has remained a vital component of this nucleus ever since the gritty player made a resounding comeback in world cricket at the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007. Solidity, coupled with dignified composure earned him the honour of Test captaincy in the aftermath of that ugly 2010 fixing saga, and then the ODI leadership in the first half of 2011.

The elegant and clean Misbah, living with that tormenting 'tuk-tuk' tag which the sturdy batter very much erased with his renewed willow work throughout last year, has not only tried to strengthen his individual game but has also succeeded in leading the team without any major controversy. In the process the team has pocketed some impressive victories.

Now if a comprehensive ploy is being set to turf out Misbah from national captaincy in an unceremonious, rather deceitful manner, will this serve Pakistan cricket in any way? This grave question arises simply because there have been strong pieces of information lately that a certain lobby, having some highly significant individuals within Pakistan cricket circle, is hell-bent on expelling Misbah as skipper, by hook or by crook!

Where are we headed? What wrong has Misbah done to Pakistan cricket which is returning him this treatment from among his own people? What concrete steps has the Najam Sethi-headed PCB officialdom taken so far to identify and prevent this smudgy plan from being executed? Are those in the corridors of power even aware of these developments?

And extremely disturbing amid this alleged behind-the-scene activity are the totally contrasting signals on ODI captaincy emanating from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB): while Moin Khan during a news conference in Karachi last Tuesday expressed that change in ODI leadership had been under discussion, giving an indication that a new ODI captain might be in place soon, (in absolute rebuttal to Moin's word) Sethi, within a few hours, reiterated his statement that Misbah would remain at the helm till the 2015 World Cup. The PCB chief, according to media reports, added that only the chairman, and not the selection committee, was authorised to appoint national captain.

If the above statement of Sethi – being the highest authority in the PCB – is taken as official policy, then a query emerges: what prompted Moin to claim that the change in ODI captaincy was under consideration? Should officials not exercise more restraint in giving public statements on the subjects they are not concerned with or which do not come under their official domain?

With all due regard to Sethi and Moin, their highly opposing statements on the crucial subject of ODI leadership raises some very serious questions on the level and effectiveness of coordination between the two, particularly when the latter has not even initiated practical work as chief selector or team manager yet.

And a related concern of an ardent fan is that this frail-looking coordination between two key officials of the PCB may soon indirectly result in negative elements raising their heads to advance their ugly, personal agendas in Pakistan cricket.

Coming back to the forces aligned against Misbah. The ignominious scheme to force out the national captain, if succeeds, will give a massive jolt to Pakistan cricket that has already been riddled with innumerable on- and off-the-field problems. Therefore, the PCB top brass is naturally expected to realise its responsibility in decoding and dismantling this degrading, clandestine activity – and its contrivers -- at the earliest so that Pakistan can focus on intensifying its efforts for the all-important 2015 World Cup.

There can be zillions of arguments and counter-arguments on retaining Misbah as captain till next year's mega event where margin of errors for all players, and their skippers, will be at the very minimum. And there could be a properly devised strategy upon which the ODI captaincy could be decided, even if it means replacing Misbah with some other player for the benefit of Pakistan cricket.

But indeed, the change of guard must not take place the way it is allegedly being sought by those hatching conspiracies.

It would not be easy for the cricket authorities by any means for the 'anonymous' forces must have been extra vigilant in executing their ugly plans. Outsmarting these negative elements would definitely require some crisp and genuine effort by the PCB, after all it is their duty!

No captain on the surface of this earth has had eternal professional responsibility, all leave the stage sooner or later, and Misbah, who will be 40 come May 28, is no exception. Those who leave the helm on a high perhaps feel more satisfaction and it is a universally established fact that aging is a natural, continuous and unstoppable occurrence. So, in Misbah's case a fine line has to be drawn – both by the player himself and the PCB as to where he stands in the lead-up to next year's World Cup.

Pakistan's leadership in World Cups has remained a contentious issue in recent years, how an out-of-form Inzamam-ul-Haq and his team were shot out in the 2007 event and the naming of Shahid Afridi as captain, just at the eleventh hour, for the 2011 World Cup by Ijaz Butt-run PCB are part of our recent history. Now with around ten months left before Australia and New Zealand launch the 2015 party, installing a new commander in place of Misbah certainly looks a call loaded with risks for Pakistan doesn’t have many limited-overs series either in the run-up to the World Cup, to test the new leader.

Still if the think-tank, after thorough deliberations, considers Pakistan needs to review its human resource in order to come to the best possible conclusion, then one reckons there should be a three-step procedure.

Performance and performance on the field with silence had been Misbah's forte. His meticulous services to Pakistan cricket despite some of his shortcomings, like any other human being, merit some margin for the rock-solid batsman.

In the first step, Misbah should be allowed by the PCB to very pragmatically assess himself as to whether he will be good enough to feature in the 2015 event, when he'll be close to turning 41, as captain.

Evaluating his ability in meeting the team requirements in cut-throat World Cup battles should be the key factor here for Misbah in deciding about his ODI captaincy, with patience and wholeheartedness.

The second phase is a concurrent move to be made by the PCB, weighing up different choices for ODI leadership. Regarding player's leadership attributes and experience without any favour of any kind must be the decisive factor in narrowing down possible candidates.

In the third stage, the PCB should take Misbah on board for both sides to exchange their respective views on World Cup captaincy and must develop a clear consensus for the latter to take a concrete, decision. If they agree on bringing in a new captain for the World Cup, it is better advised to take that very player in the loop at some stage.

The captaincy decision arrived at through this method will prevent open and hidden wranglings from cropping up – which Pakistan cricket, unfortunately, has been known for — and will settle Misbah’s reign as national ODI captain in a dignified manner. And not to forget the SOP will also enable the team to showcase its true talent under an appropriately empowered and confident skipper in the World Cup.

And for whatever reason if Mr Sethi and his team do not take timely steps to thwart the silently developing conspiracy against the national captain, and indeed against Pakistan cricket, the consequences will be devastating in the short- as well as long-run.