As evidences delineate Pakistan Cricket Board's government is consociational. Ironically, with Younis Khan resigning, to some on a principled stand and to others largely because of impetuosity, it has lead to consultation among the elites of each of PCB's major tiers.

By now Mr Ijaz Butt would have realised that consociational set-ups are often contrasted with organisations with majoritarian democratic systems. Mr. Butt tried using power. For him, it looks as if power is a measure of his ability to control the environment around himself, including the behaviour of other people.

Trying to figure as a powerful decision-maker, and a law unto himself, it has often not been perceived as acceptable by the social structure. Radically, dealing with people like Younis Khan, it appeared as if Mr. Butt failed to make a distinction between power and influence -- the means by which power is used. Here were have to see Pakistan cricket's present dilemma in three dimensions -- a) With reference to Mr Butt really attempting to see his power as various forms of constraint on his actions or desires, b) Younis Khan, though rattled by the sequence of unwarranted happenings, attempting to make an action possible, in a limited scope, c) The Chairman of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sports not believing that use of authority and power could be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to humans as social beings.

Younis, when asked to appear in front of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sports was in a complex strategic situation in a given social setting. Being deeply impetuous, less structural, his concept involved both constraint and enablement. As an aftermath he tendered his resignation reflecting that his decision was voluntaristic. That Mr. Butt didn't accept it was evidence that it had a connotation of unilateralism. An upright, hard-minded, of high integrity, Younis emerged as a man victimised. His was a principled stand, and of high esteem he was standing-up to authority, quitting his seat of power preserving his personality's moral layers.

Mr Butt, quite rightly provided Younis time and space where he wanted to persuade him to retract his resignation and continue leading the team. Presumably, Younis didn't really comply and there was a noticeable shift from a principled stand to use of primary power, the direct and personal use of weight as a cricketer involving the threat of force or social constraint most likely involving third-party exercisers of delegated power.

Younis may well have practiced forcing the PCB chairman to behave in an involuntary manner by using his indispensability putting tough conditions, unintended intimidation and other forms of pressure. He may well have been forced into using leverage coercing the authorities to act in his desired way.

There have been reports that a handful of players had shown their dissent playing under him because of his authoritarian presence in the dressing room. It has also been said that Younis hadn't really been able to forge a congenial relationship with Yawar Saeed, team's manager. Coach Intikhab Alam, as alleged, was like being with Younis and not with him; a strategic management failure.

Yawar, as reported had also facilitated Shahid Afridi's meeting with the Chairman PCB. According to reports emanating from within, Yawar and Younis weren't really appreciating each other. It is also said that Yawar had decided to quit being unable to sustain Younis's often reckless outbursts with him and the players. And since Younis's presence in the team as captain became tricky after Pakistan lost to New Zealand in the Semi Final of the Champions Trophy amidst allegations of 'fixing', certain people and players and a few insiders wanted him to go correlating it with his weakening status as captain.

Younis's resignation could be seen in four dimensions- a) Personality (high integrity, egotism and reaction to character assassination), b) Conditioned (the result of persuasion) c) Compensatory (through the use of various resources) and d) Condign (based on force). To start with, Younis's resignation was aggressive (forceful) and subsequently by rolling the demands it shifted to the manipulative (persuasion) to achieve personal security-that may well not have reflected nicely on his otherwise untainted personality.

It seemed that Younis Khan, tried living up to 'Thomas Hobbes's (1588-1679) philosophy defining power as a man's 'present means, to obtain some future apparent good' (Leviathan, Ch.10). And by asking the Chairman PCB to appoint him as country's captain on long term basis, presumably up to World Cup 2011, he also tried fulfilling Friedrich Nietzche's 20th century analysis of power in which he disseminated ideas on the 'will to power', which he saw as the domination of other humans as much as the exercise of control over one's environment.

Logically and realistically, if Younis's resignation and PCB's reaction is viewed in a different light there seems that it has been about decision making & agenda-setting, informal influences, measure extent of informal influence, techniques used by two-dimensional power structures such as influence, inducement, persuasion, authority, coercion and direct force. Regarding him asking for more powers as captain was rather due to his understanding of the situation. Knowing that he wasn't really admired within the dressing room, he desperately needed powers to trample the grass under his feet. It looks like he isn't ready to believe the assurances and individual guarantees rather he wants to be absolutely powerful to jump in the fray attempting to set the rudders as he wants against obvious and tough resistance.

Younis must have remembered that the more power one has, the less one takes on the perspective of others, implying that the powerful have less empathy. However, it seems his future as Pakistan's top-notch batsman and as team's captain is diluting in a 'bystander effect'.

That's only half the story; the other half is that soon PCB would be pitched in a battle with Younis, and their bureaucratic decisions in self-interest. PCB chairman Mr Butt, for the time being, has rejected the idea of long term appointment of Younis as captain trying to show he has control over which is pretty much the entire cricket establishment. The board's proprietary stand over Younis' decision, to some principled and to others reckless is, at the very least, at odds with ground realities.

The farcical way it has run the national team is well known; less documented, though perhaps more damaging, is how it runs all other levels of cricket in the country-and all other aspects, from appointment of manager or coach, or representing PCB at the ICC. Now, they have to deal with a potentially tricky situation, letting go Younis, submitting to his demands or trying to tap other options, which at this point of time look ambiguously unpleasant. All else would flow from here.

The opportunity now stares the board in the face. After more than a year of acting coy, the PCB chairman has made as bold a statement as possible, clarifying to Younis that he wouldn't be allowed to dictate terms. It is as much a statement of intent as a challenge to the PCB, the matter is now out in the open; Younis is an entity and indeed the PCB, which has taken a clear stand and just can't wish away.

At stake is not just the future of Younis Khan but also about floundering the prospects of raising a competitive Pakistan team. And that will be PCB's greatest challenge: It has to play its role as the custodian of Pakistan cricket and ignoring its more natural instinct to protect a smaller piece of turf, precisely the attitude that has given Younis or his adversaries enough fertile ground to sow the seeds of secession.

It many ways the easy bit is over. It is one thing to accept or reject Younis's resignation, quite another to motivate him to work without setting conditions. The problem is largely PCB's own making by first making Younis team's captain, so, too, can be the solution.

That Younis's short tenure as captain is over I am afraid, but not seriously doubt that at the eleventh hour he wants to stitch himself back. Realistically by overreacting to the match-fixing allegations, his unwarranted naivety and stubbornness may well have seen his fingers reaching out and touch the self-destruct button; it is the fatal attraction of the moth for the flame.

Born in the household of a police officer in Jhang on June 6, 1968, Aleem Dar like any other young Pakistani boy wanted to become a cricketer. But due to his father's postings in areas like Chishtian, Bahawalnagar, Sihala etc he was unable to turn this dream into reality. "When I came to Lahore I got admission in Islamia College. Wasim Akram was the first one who got selected in the bowling department and so was I in batting. I worked really hard but soon I realised that age was not on my side." However, as a middle-order batsman and leg spinner, Dar went on to play domestic cricket for the Allied Bank, Gujranwala Cricket Association, Lahore, and Pakistan Railways.

Initially not having much interest in umpiring, Aleem Dar tells that it was Rameez Raja who suggested him to try his hand at umpiring. "PCB was coaching and recruiting new umpires then and I always wanted to represent my country in any form so be that in umpiring, I thought!" He didn't look back after.

At the age of 32, he stood in his first ODI in 2000 and within two years he was appointed to the ICC panel. In 2003 he officiated in the World Cup, ironically, it was the same year, which saw the death of his seven months old daughter. It was Dar's wife who took control of things and became his strength, not revealing the fact till the end of the tournament. And his Test debut followed in October 2003. Six months later he was promoted to the ICC's elite panel. In April 2007 he stood in the World Cup final. At the annual ICC awards this year, Aleem Dar was awarded the Umpire of the Year award.

Aleem Dar spends his time with his three children when he is in town, but still grabs any chance to play a match or two to satisfy his cricket bud. Last week, 'News on Sunday' caught him playing at the Aligarh Cricket Ground in Model Town Lahore. Following are the excerpts of the interview:

The News on Sunday: How does it feel to finally win the Umpire of the Year award after being nominated for four consecutive years?

Aleem Dar: It is a great honour for me, and being a Pakistani I'm proud that I have brought home this laurel. Yes, since 2004 I was being nominated for this award and Simon Taufel has been winning it for the last five years. This was the 6th year and somehow I managed to pull it off this time. Indeed it is a great achievement to have beaten Simon but I was content even when I was being nominated alongside Simon. It has all become possible because of consistency and after being named in ICC's elite panel in 2004 I have worked a lot on my umpiring.

TNS: Now when you look back at the 2007 World cup final controversy, when you were suspended along with the other four officials, did you think you'd reach this far?

AD: Those were tough times for me. We made mistakes in judging the playing conditions; senior umpire such as Steve Bucknor and match referee was also involved in the controversy. There was a lot of miscommunication between the officials and ICC suspended us from duty for the next ICC 2007 Twenty20 World Championship.

But I had a lot of confidence in my umpiring abilities. I knew I was consistent in my decisions and had good match control too. Deep down I knew I'd make a come back. After that I stood in many high profile matches – several India-Pakistan ODIs and the five-match Ashes too.

TNS: You have adjudicated many high profile matches. Do you ever feel pressurised by the players or even the crowd?

AD: I am a very calm and cool person who doesn't get bogged down by any player. I don't really care about the players or not even the crowd for that matter. The ball is all-important to me – ëEye on the ball' -ó this is cricket and this is umpiring. On the field everyone has to focus on one object i.e. the ball, when a player turns his eyes from the ball he drops catches or gets out, same goes for umpiring you have to concentrate otherwise you'll end up giving wrong decisions. I have a lot of respect for the players. I believe this game is alive because of its players. But on the field I don't think there is any need of being friendly with the players.

TNS: How about the Australian team? They are said to be supercharging when it comes to appealing?

AD: When I had started umpiring they were very aggressive on the field but now I've noticed that they have disciplined themselves. The Australian prime minister has also pointed out that Australia has never won the Spirit of Cricket Award and the team should work towards winning it. Initially, I had problems with a few players but now with the appointment of a match referee things have smoothed.

TNS: Throughout your umpiring career has there ever been a moment when you wanted to side with the Pakistan team?

AD: When I'm officiating ICC events such as the Champions trophy, the World Cup or the T20 matches I don't stand for Pakistan because by principle, neutral umpires are appointed in those games. In those matches my wishes are with team Pakistan. But when I officiate Pakistan's match I stay neutral and that is my job – emotions can't carry me away. I have seen many umpires who say that we should get into the finals and they don't really care much about their teams. However, I feel the nation wants to see the team and not 'Aleem Dar' so I always pray for them.

TNS: In order to curb match-fixing ICC made an Anti-Corruption and Security Unit that oversees the players. How about making such a body for the umpires too? Because even they can fix matches giving decisions in favour of any team.

AD: During matches we are not allowed any kind of communication outside the ground. We can't take any messages in the field and no laptop or mobiles are authorised. Our checking is done but I have never been offered any such deal (he laughs).

No umpire makes mistake knowingly, for example this Umar Akmal decision in the Champions Trophy semifinal by Simon Taufel, I remember the next morning he met me at breakfast and he was really upset about his error. I'm sure no one does it intentionally – because the elite panel umpires have to score 95 marks out of 100 – it is mighty hard to maintain this average. We are judged on the scale from ëbad' to ëvery bad' decisions, so umpires do take special care of not taking bad decisions.

TNS: How do you see the use of technology in modern day cricket especially when it comes to umpiring?

AD: ICC's main objective is that the obvious decisions that are made by the umpire, like the lbw on inside edge or ball going outside the leg stump been given lbw, these decisions can be survived. But one bad decision changes the entire game so now ICC wants to improve the average of 94 to 95 percent to 97 to 98 percent. Hotspot is a very important technology and it clearly determines whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat or pad. However, I don't consider hawk eye 100 percent accurate. With the use of hotspot all the pressure would now be on the batsman to perform well he won't have the umpire to blame.

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'Button's up' for Brawn

It's been a merry-go-round, when it comes to the headlines that Formula one has managed to make over the past few months -- all was there except the race talk -- but one guy who kept his cool and focused on the races as well as stayed away from all the negative hoopla, being generated around the grid.

A 29-year-old Brit, who was termed as a playboy when he made his debut on the F1 circuit in 2000, made racing headlines all-so important again, when he secured the title in Brazil last Sunday. He did that with a race to spare.

In April of this season Flavio Briatore dismissed Jenson Button as a paracarro -- an Italian term for a roadside post usually made of concrete.

But in Brazil on Sunday Button answered Briatore and the rest of his critics with a stunning drive to cement his place in history by clinching the world championship in fine style.

After dominating the early part of the season with six crushing victories in the first seven races, the second half of the year has been much more difficult for Jenson, and with his title rivals Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel driving well and picking up wins, Button has faced accusations that he would not be a worthy champion.

Any doubts about his worthiness were blown away on last Sunday in Brazil when he drove a superb race to make up what seemed like an impossible deficit at the start.

The critics complain there is not enough overtaking in F1, yet in one race Button proved it can be done. Indeed, he has been proving it all year -- which partly why he is such a deserving champion.

Equally supported by his teammate Rubens Barrichello -- third overall in the drivers' championship and was the only guy giving competition to the Brit.

Together both of them delivered the constructor's crown to their owner and team boss Ross Brawn, who himself is a maestro at his work.

Quite apart from that, Button has won six races this season, which is one more than Lewis Hamilton won in his 2008 championship year, and no one questioned the McLaren driver's worthiness. Back in 1982, Keke Rosberg won the title with just one solitary win all season, yet it did not diminish his achievement.

The fact is, whoever scores the most points is champion, and Jenson has done it with one race to spare. He has won more races than any other driver and he delivered some of the most exciting drives of the season.

Jenson Button -- the 31st winner and the first for Brawn GP -- is only the latest in a long line of British drivers to have won the Formula One championship. Ten championship drivers, with fourteen titles between them, have hailed from the UK.

He is the first winner for Brawn GP, in their debut season in the sport.

Juan Miguel Fangio is the only driver to come close to challenging Michael Schumacher's domination of Formula One. In the early 1950s, when the sport was in its infancy, Fangio took five titles in seven years, winning nearly half of the races he entered.

According to the figures, however, Michael Schumacher is the greatest driver the sport has seen. He was world champion seven times, winning five in a row in the early 2000s. Schumacher has entered more races (250), won more (91) and achieved more pole positions (68) than any other Formula One winner in history. He also racked up the most points in a season (148 from 18 races, in 2004).

But this story only begins with this win.

The man who turned Jenson Button into a world champion stood in his team's office -- which won the constructors championship -- on Sunday night and tried to take in the magnitude of what had just happened.

Formula One is not usually big on sentiment but what Ross Brawn has done this season is as close as you can get to a miracle on wheels. He took a team that was told it had no future when Honda pulled out of F1 in the winter and gave it new life.

He rescued Button and Rubens Barrichello from the scrapheap. He got a group of engineers and aerodynamicists their jobs back. Then, he set about winning.

He brought his winning ways to a team heading down and under and took them to the title in their maiden season. Ross Brawn previously has won championships with Ferrari and Benetton.

The tail was not all that good for the Formula One giants Ferrari, overall a devastating season -- in which they have to bear the injury of their ace driver Felipe Massa. Their other driver, Kimi Raikkonen, who will be replaced by Fernando Alonso next season, constantly under performed and managed only a couple of third place finishes so far in the season.

Driver vows for the F1's red devils continued after Massa's crash. There were talks of Michael Schumacher replacing him then it was Luca Badoer who eventually took the saddle. Mediocre performances made Ferrari rethink their decision and brought in Giancarlo Fisichella from Force India, who will from next season be test driver for the team.

Mark Webber, currently fourth in the drivers' standings, is having by far the best season of his life winning his first race in Germany this year and made the second win of his career in Brazil last week.

Apart from the wins Webber was able to finish on podium in four other races.

With new competition joining Brawn in the grid in 2010, at least three new teams -- Campos Meta Team, Manor Grand Prix and US F1 -- along with the existing nine teams (BMW not included) and Lotus (relaunching itself) will be there to keep the tarmac warm.

The pit could have fourteen teems, but BMW-Sauber's new owners Qadbak not guaranteed a spot in pitlane next year, it was believed the reason was the objection not only of Williams but also the new Campos team.