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© 2025 Ahmer Naqvi
Description
"What do they know of cricket, who only cricket know?"
Ahmer Naqvi (and occasionally) Osman Samiuddin look at cricket from beyond the runs and wickets to the larger sociocultural context of the sport.
81 Episodes
Reverse
Aik bacha tha jo out nahi hota tha.Link to Haroon Khalid's works: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/7247507.Haroon_KhalidFollow us on Youtube!
An extremely #RichPeopleProblems issue leads to a deeper understanding of why we watch our favourite teams.My essay on fandom and forgetting: https://karachikhatmal.com/the-i-who-becomes-a-we-the-importance-of-forgetting-to-fandomF1 creator on why NBA content > other sports: https://ideefixe.co/p/the-creator-paradox-why-f1-and-tennisGame of Zones: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoqDIJHlyN3NIPW9D37rQEceGNZEiRmMXEssay criticising Uncut Gems 'facile cruelty': https://www.theringer.com/2025/10/31/movies/uncut-gems-review-best-movies-21st-centuryEssay on why Uncut Gems is a great movie about watching sports: https://unnamedtemporarysportsblog.com/uncut-gems-is-the-first-great-movie-about-watching-sports/Essay on why Adam Sandler's character is like our favourite sports team: https://www.sbnation.com/2019/12/24/21028750/uncut-gems-review-sports-movie-adam-sandlerFollow us on Youtube!
An invention from Karachi in the 80s, Tapeball cricket took the colonial history of the sport and ripped it apart.Biryani article featuring Malang: https://fiftytwo.in/story/rice-fat-meat-streets/Abid Hussain's Tapeball Longform: https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/929545/tape-ball-talesTapeball image credit: Ali Akbar Naqvi, originally made for PaceisPaceYaar.Follow us on Youtube!
"I don't know what the stats are. But this is not a rivalry anymore" - Suryakumar Yadav's claim that India-Pakistan is not a rivalry anymore made me want to explore what rivalries are, and when - if at all - do they end?Follow us on Youtube!
"Pakistan is a country of SLAs pretending to be pacers" - this throwaway text from Osman on PiPY led to this podcast: a discussion on the aesthetics of Pakistani bowling, how they changed irrevocably with Imran Khan, and how the continued presence of guys like Noman in the chaos since is what makes sports so beautiful. Follow us on Youtube!
In this lecture Ahmer argues that almost every time you watch a Pakistan cricket team play - men's, women's, u19, whatever - you end up seeing the same match. No matter how many times you repair and replace its parts, the ship remains the same.Link to Jarrod's video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPWYKyjCP_j/Link to Danyal's article: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/asia-cup-2025-ind-vs-pak-what-pakistan-say-what-pakistan-do-and-the-gap-between-them-1504056Follow us on Youtube!
00:00 Hafeez, Rashid and Legacy of 90s Cricket Players03:57 The Impact of 90s Cricket on Modern Perceptions10:36 Cultural Significance of 90s Cricket14:44 Corruption and Instability21:37 Why the 90s were an era of decline30:04 The Lost Tournaments of the 90s39:14 The Impact of County Cricket on Pakistani cricket43:47 13 Captaincy changes in 3 years!52:01 Late-Era Wasim CaptaincyFollow us on Youtube!
Back with the @sportingmyths crew, we debate the GOAT ICC event performances. Before anyone gets too senti, the nominations and seedings were done kafi arbitrarily, because the intention was to just discuss some great performances. Fakhar Zaman vs India 2017Mohammad Amir vs India 2017Shahid Afridi vs South Africa, 2009Inzamam ul Haq vs New Zealand, 1992Wasim Akram vs England, 1992Babar Azam vs New Zealand, 2019Rambo vs New Zealand, 1992Misbah ul Haq vs India, 2007Follow us on Youtube!
Just in time for the incredible disappointment of a winless home tournament, Osman Samiuddin announces his totally final (unless need of nation arises) absolutely complete retirement from the show.00:00 Introduction and Context of the Podcast01:49 Osman's Departure 05:18 Pakistan Cricket - can it really die?10:27 That hockey wala trauma 15:15 How Pakistan has stumbled into every major win22:00 Was the Misbah era worse?30:59 The issues in this era35:46 Has the PCB almost always sucked?40:10 How does Pak cricket survive the scary future?49:52 Why ex-cricketers need self-awarenessFollow us on Youtube!
![[Re-upload] WI Thrash Pakistan - The Jinx Comes True - feat. Backward Point - Episode 78](https://hosting-media.rs-prod.riverside.fm/media/imports/podcasts/7632990c-6152-40da-a0ae-35a1b6c8ff49/episodes/0a0d90f0-16f1-4506-b0c6-c95adce825b5/9wvu02lq3lzh5ehu0rt5vksc3yzf.jpg "[Re-upload] WI Thrash Pakistan - The Jinx Comes True - feat. Backward Point - Episode 78")
00:00 Introduction to Backward Point01:29 Discussing the defeat04:47 Babar Azam's Performance07:36 Challenges in Pakistan's Batting10:27 Issues with Domestic Cricket Conditions12:08 Inability to Dismiss Lower Order Batsmen21:52 AqibBall and Long-term Planning29:36 Is the Spin Approach Fun?31:16 How to Sustain Test Cricket36:37 Flaws in the World Test Championship40:41 Fan Experience in Pakistan49:23 Press Box Dynamics Follow Backward Point on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@UCGHVj4AgR2FBB0slp2VOyuwFollow us on Youtube!
00:00 Introduction to Anthems03:00 Bol Qalandar Banger06:00 Analysis of Ali Zafar's Anthems 11:27 Arif Lohar and The Funniest Anthem Story18:05 The Lahore Qalandars' Unique Sound23:54 Desi Hip Hop's Emergence in PSL and the Naseebo Song27:02 The Karachi Kings' Anthem HateWatch30:04 Many Generic Songs41:23 Exploring the Impact of PSL Anthems45:13 How Soch adds to Islamabad United's Vibe49:39 DJ Bravo and the Iconic Gladiators Anthem52:36 The Nostalgia of Classic Cricket Songs55:45 The Legacy of Tu Hai Kahan01:03:12 The Influence of Abraar-ul-Haq's Zor Laga Ke Haiyya01:10:18 The Legendary Bhoom Bhoom SongLink to the excel with all the songs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1avZji4wezP0kcElw1VdYnaYEODAeKoLxJdVHJQpqfHA/edit?usp=sharingLink to playlist with most of these songs: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3r0c7_s7gjhHksFQ0cK_7iWLx01-HaomFollow us on Youtube!
00:00 Pakistan's Historic Test Victory02:46 Bowling Strategies and Player Performances06:04 The Role of Spinners09:03 Aqib Javed's Coaching Impact15:09 World Test Championship and the Future of Test Cricket38:12 Cricket's relationship with ecology45:50 Pakistan's Home Advantage Strategy51:27 The Terrible Calendar for Pakistan56:24 Reflections on the World Test Championship Cycle01:01:00 Realising we have jinxed PakistanFollow us on Youtube!
00:00 Introduction and Context of Pakistan's Cricket Performance01:14 Analysis of Recent Matches and Player Performances04:49 Pakistan's Injury Curse08:59 Evaluating Pakistan's Test Team Consistency13:02 Is Pakistan really a fast bowling country?26:30 Pakistan cricket's mismanagement of bowlers24:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Team Development33:13 The Two-Tiered World Test Championship Debate49:53 The Hypocrisy of the Afghan cricket boycott callsFollow us on Youtube!
00:00 Intro00:29 Abbas's Travolta-like comeback06:01 Analyzing Abbas's Bowling Performance08:50 Abbas's changing pace 12:08 Celebrating like Shaiby26:00 Rabada and Naseem's spells29:49 Rabada vs Bumrah and Cummins35:42 Race and Class Privilege in South African Cricket36:53 South Africa's Incredible Journey to the WTC Final40:44 The Big Three's Dominance of ICC Events43:02 The Media's Role in Cricket Narratives45:22 Recognising players outside of the Big 354:58 Why this match was a rare tragedy in SA01:00:34 Empathising with ShanFollow us on Youtube!
00:00 Celebrating the sweep02:53 Shaheen finds his form09:46 On the circle of Love, Saim & Saeed 19:49 Comparing Generations: Saeed Anwar and Saim Ayub29:57 Sufyan, Salman and other Solid Performers33:49 Why doesn't South Africa hurt as much as Australia?40:00 Pakistan and the WTC Final39:07 Pakistan's Chances Against South Africa46:13 How to win in SA52:03 Do Bilaterals matter?57:48 How the Rizwan era might be differentFollow us on Youtube!
00:00 Easy Ho Ja03:04 Ahmer’s nightly fantasy05:52 Saim Ayub: Dekha Na Tha15:10 Salman Ali Agha: The Unsung Hero21:05 Pak record in SA30:05 Agha’s superb spin36:53 Rizwan’s captaincy44:56 Gillespie resignation54:12 The fkn Champions TrophyFollow us on Youtube!
Pakistan's men's squad for the tour to South Africa featured the omission of Shaheen Afridi, a development that was more sad than shocking. We debate the rest of the squad, and then get into the absolute sh*tshow that has been the Champions Trophy hosting crisis.00:00 Reflections on Pakistan's Test Squad05:52 The Future of Shaheen Afridi's Career09:13 Do Tests still offer the same legacy as white-ball?14:50 Why Pakistan is a graveyard for bowlers17:51 Sajid Khan's Exclusion and Its Implications20:55 Hope for Mohammed Abbas's Return31:26 More complaints about how we've ruined our pacers39:39 The Hybrid Model Controversy 50:28 BCCI's Actual Stance on Security Concerns56:38 The Ineffectiveness of ICC LeadershipFollow us on Youtube!
00:00 Introduction to the Q&A Session01:09 Who was the best Test player in every decade from the '50s onwards?16:30 What will happen with the PCB, ICC and the BCCI in the Champions Trophy?34:06 Which bowlers should make the squad for the SA tour? 37:59 What are the pop-culture implications of 1987-era Imran Khan being present today and dating Taylor Swift?47:40 Did the recent series wins hide deeper structural problems in the men's team?51:12 How much do individuals end up influencing bilateral cricket relations between India and Pakistan?57:02 Players you thought would be great but weren't/Thoughts on Umar Akmal1:00:15 Lovely anecdote about Osman and Bob Woolmer1:04:30 Does Afridi still make the 21st century Pak Test XI as an opener?1:05:07 Who should be in Pak men's T20 squad?Follow us on Youtube!
00:00 CONGRATES TO PACE LOVERS05:48 Seeing Pakistan cricket as a work of art rather than sport08:54 Haris Rauf: Pace is Pace Yaar11:59 The Game Changing Impact of Tape Ball Cricket21:20 Pakistan’s pacers rediscovering their groove22:58 Demythologising the Mighty 90s25:10 Saim Ayub and the Saeed Anwar comparisons37:42 Rizwan's Captaincy: A New Perspective47:39 Political Ramifications of the Champions Trophy01:01:27 The Future of ICC DynamicsFollow us on Youtube!
Recently paroled con artist Aqib Javed is traveling around the country gathering people for his next big scheme: to rob three Tests owned by the ever ruthless English cricket team. With the aid of a right hand man named Aleem Dar, an umpire out of retirement, a Shani, a boundary dealer, a bald offie, a smooth leftie, an explosives expert, two failing openers, and a bitter casino mogul, they make up Aqib's Eleven, out to make one very big score.00:00 Celebrating an Unbelievable Victory03:10 The Context of Pakistan's Test drought06:07 The Rise of Unsung Heroes - Sajid and Noman12:01 The Importance of Unpredictability 14:53 How to explain Haal20:54 The Randomness of this duo working out24:02 Is Pakistan Cricket Embarrassed of Home Advantage?34:14 Aleem Dar's Insights 36:43 Why this series was basically Ocean's 11 with Aqib as Clooney and Aleem Dar as Brad Pitt38:31 Saud Shaqeel's Remarkable Innings40:53 Rizwan's Exceptional Keeping Skills44:52 Traditional Test Cricket vs. Bazball, Rohitball etc49:47 Can Pakistan make this their new formula for home tests?01:00:38 Why home advantage mattersFollow us on Youtube!
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