When everything runs on friends and family, who exactly is left to play professional cricket?
Our story begins with a phenomenon now studied by scientists: Mohsin Speed.
Governments changed moods, opposition changed slogans, votes of no-confidence appeared and disappeared — but Mohsin Naqvi stayed exactly where he was. Like the office chair nobody owns, but everyone uses.
And you must admire the pace.
At 10:00 AM he’s in Sri Lanka, congratulating the team after defeat because in our system, effort matters more than results.
At 2:00 PM, he’s in Lahore discussing global cricket diplomacy with the ICC.
By evening, he’s reviewing national law-and-order briefings.
And before bedtime, he’s checking TV channel ratings.
Even smartphones display “Too many apps running”, but our governance does not.
There’s an old proverb:
A man who rides many boats eventually becomes news about drowning.
So a polite national request:
Sir, choose a field. Any field. Even hockey will do.
At least we’ll finally discover where the specialist lives.
Because right now:
- The 24News HD channel never became truly national
- The interior ministry never became truly peaceful
- And cricket never became truly competitive
It’s like a restaurant serving biryani, sushi, and pizza, and mastering none.
The Media Department of Silence
Media houses won’t demand accountability.
Government advertisements are oxygen; criticism is carbon monoxide.
Million-rupee salaries don’t survive moral courage.
Anchors, meanwhile, have evolved.
Research has been replaced with volume.
Junior reporters now appear as Senior Analysts.
Guests shout, graphics blink, hashtags scream — and information quietly leaves the building.
We now have a new tournament: Anchor Premier League (APL)
No ball, no bat, only breaking news.
Meanwhile, somewhere, cricket was scheduled
Back to the actual sport.
Two years ago, Pakistan lost to India in the USA.
In professional systems, that triggers reform.
In our system, that triggers panel discussions.
So what changed?
- New fitness standards? No.
- New domestic structure? No.
- New player pool? Also no.
We kept the same blueprint:
Hope, nostalgia, and a motivational tweet.
- Same decisions.
- Same selections.
- Same explanations.
Babar Azam is still searching for a match-winning innings.
Shaheen Afridi is still searching for a defining spell.
Players dominate franchise leagues worldwide — collecting contracts like Pokémon cards —
But for Pakistan they perform like part-time interns.
Professional earnings. Amateur urgency.
The national reaction cycle
Defeat → outrage → TV debates → memes → silence → repeat.
Public anger behaves like tea foam — dramatic at first, gone in seconds.
Because learning requires responsibility, and responsibility requires ownership.
And ownership is dangerous in a system designed for comfort.
The final scoreboard
No one really learns:
Not the players — contracts keep coming.
Not the board — positions keep staying.
Not the media — ads keep running.
Not even the fans — hope keeps resetting.
Everyone survives.
Because everyone, somehow, is connected.
Welcome to the Republic of Friends & Family,
where merit is optional, accountability is seasonal,
and cricket… is just the background music. 🏏
