New Chief Selector of Pakistan Cricket board: Pakistan’s society mostly enjoys three kinds of reality shows. These are reality shows on Cricket, Politics and Pakistani Army – ISI. Mind you, the reality show on the Pakistan Army doesn’t involve stories of valour, sacrifice or any other virtues. Contrary to that, it involves the stories of illicit power grab, corruption, surrender and running the country on the path of chaos. The fun element of the other two reality shows is too spicy to miss.
Now, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is witnessing the newest season of the concocted mix of these three ‘scripted’ reality shows. It is for sure that the fun element will shoot through the roof.
Furthering Politics among a Cricket frenzy nation
Recently, ‘Boom Boom’ famed Former All-rounder, Shahid Afridi, was appointed as the Interim Chief Selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
PCB Management Committee has appointed former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi as the interim Chair of the Men’s National Selection Committee. Other members of the panel are: Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum. Haroon Rashid will be the Convener.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 24, 2022
Shahid Afridi was entrusted with this new role of Chief Selector of Pakistan cricket board on December 24th. Several former cricketers, including Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria, mocked the development by highlighting the shoddy past of “Lala.”
https://twitter.com/DanishKaneria61/status/1606888823799128066
For the past few days, the Pakistan Cricket Board has been going through a revamp phase under its new chairman, Najim Sethi. Sethi had taken over the baton from his predecessor, Ramiz Raja. Ironically, Ramiz was unceremoniously sacked against the backdrop of Pakistan’s humiliating defeat in the home series.
This humiliating defeat (3-0) trampled all the political ambitions of Ramiz Raja. He otherwise was religiously following the book to gain access to the power corridors, including to double up on anti-India rhetoric.
Also Read: Dear Ramiz Raja, fans are Indians first, cricket fans later
It has become a common practise in Pakistan that the ‘deep state’ try to capitalise the fan frenzy of Cricketers to peddle its agenda and have manipulating control over politics. Imran Khan was the classic case where Pakistan’s ‘deep state’ nurtured an over-ambitious cricketer with the hope of pulling his strings at will.
Now, the selection of rabid Hindu hater Shahid Afridi has eerie similarities with his Former Captain ‘Im the Dim’. Going ahead, we will highlight why the political rise of Shahid Afridi is a threat to Former PM Imran Khan.
When you can’t change the man, CHANGE the man
In Pakistan, it is claimed that all the major decisions in the fields of Cricket, Politics, ISI, unofficially ‘terrorism,’ and the Army is taken by the secret cabal of the Establishment, which seems to be a flexible structure of power sharing in Pakistan. This Establishment, however, suffers from selective amnesia.
Currently, the Army’s Frankenstein monster, Imran Khan, and Pakistan’s military are at loggerheads. The ugly spat has even taken violent turns, taking the Islamic nation to the brink of civil war. As a result, the Pakistan Army has been trying to pluck the bone that has been blocking its throat for quite some time.
Also Read: Rameez Raja explains how India can cripple the PCB in a moment
However, the insane popularity and rhetorical charges of Imran Khan have foiled every attempt of the Pakistan Army to get rid of him. These steps widely range from political sabotage to alleged audio leaks to charges of scamming to assassination attempts.
After all these efforts, the Pakistan Army has realised that it can’t change Imran Khan. Thus, the catapulting of another popular, rhetorical, fanatically charged, and, most importantly, blind cricketer with ambitions gives them hope that they can completely CHANGE (replace) Imran Khan.
There are many reasons for the Pakistani army to believe this line. First of all, just like Imran Khan, Shahid Afridi is also a popular cricketer who has blind political ambitions and is ready to do every bidding of the Army. Secondly, Afridi also counters Imran’s religious fanaticism. Time and again, he has himself narrated stories of his religious bigotry and instilled anti-Hindu hatred in his daughters.
Thirdly, Shahid Afridi, hailing from the Pathan tribe and a supporter of the Talibani mindset, is a perfect counter to Imran Khan Niazi, another Pathan, popularly dubbed as Taliban Khan. Fourthly, Afridi has the advantage of knowing a few traits of cheating and manipulating things to keep him relevant.
The continuous litany around his age or the cheating on the field, ball tampering, or the hilarious fiasco of multiple retirements and revocations of retirements clearly highlights his shameless and scamster attitude, which matches the CV of political and military heads calling the shots in Pakistan.
But with Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan Army has the mistaken belief that, at a later stage, it can put a leash on Afridi, as his career is full of grey areas and career-denting controversies. It hopes to pull these to cut him to size which they failed to manifest in the case of Imran Khan Niazi.
Having seen Pakistan’s reality circus for many years, it is safer to assume that this fiasco will only end up resulting in spicier and more delicious verbal and political spats. Pakistan’s fortune will not change until and unless incompetent people sitting at the helm end up calling the shots for the nation. Until then, the throne will be repeatedly occupied by power-hungry nincompoops, whose only shot at fame will be anti-Indian and anti-Hindu vitriol.
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