The man most likely to succeed Pervez Musharraf as Pakistan’s president is also an army man — the country’s ex-spy chief and a quiet, studious and amateur golfer who mediated between Musharraf and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, British media reported on Tuesday.

Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, who was promoted as deputy chief of army staff on October 7 and is former head of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), is the favourite to become the next president if Musharraf is forced from power following political uncertainty in the country, the Daily Telegraph reported.

But although a favourite of Musharraf's, Kiyani is apparently well positioned to launch a counter-coup against his master.

Gen Kiyani, who is president of the Pakistan Golf Association, is almost certain to succeed Musharraf as chief of the army staff, the paper said, adding: “Gen Kiyani cannot avoid becoming a political player of immense importance.”

“Yet throughout his career, he has always shunned the limelight and won promotion by displaying loyalty and discretion.”