✍️ Osman Samiuddin has a brilliant write-up on how the Pakistani state apparatus have disappeared Imran Khan, debatably the nation’s most famous citizen in its short history. If you read one story this week, make it this.
“We were told that Imran’s name and images should not be on TV,” the attendee said. “Told expressly and expressively.”
A couple of days later, these instructions were reiterated in an official directive issued by Pakistan’s media regulator. Without mentioning Imran or PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the party he had founded in 1996), the order barred channels from giving airtime to 9 May’s “hate mongers, rioters, their facilitators and perpetrators”
…The most absurd contortion came from Imran’s former employers, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). When they released a video celebrating Pakistan’s greatest cricket triumphs, including footage of the side that Imran captained to victory in the 1992 World Cup, Imran had been cut out entirely.”
✍️ Adam Burnett breaks down how Travis Head tore the English bowling attack apart over an extraordinary Ashes summer.
“If the field’s up, take it (the short ball) on,” Head said. “Get all them (close-in fielders) back. In Perth, you’ve got to hit it behind (square), but in Adelaide you’ve got to hit it in front. MCG, you’ve gotta go that way, Gabba you’ve gotta go … you know what I mean? It’s all different.”
For a man nowadays defined by his knockabout, she’ll-be-right-mate persona, Head had done his homework. His preparation looked meticulous.”
📊 Raunak Thakur creates a new, bespoke metric to analyse the Mumbai Indians’ selection dilemma of 5 elite overseas players for 4 spots.
“Matthews is not the problem. Nor is Kerr the universal answer. The issue lies in overlapping roles that force redistribution elsewhere. Vaishnavi Sharma’s debut has provided a new dimension to this equation, but also reveals why MI’s rely on all-rounders; even a good bowler can’t compensate for the dual impact of the 5 foreign players they have on the roster.”
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“Spinners Anonymous”
🔒 Nick Friend has a two-part story on the state of spin in England. He’s talked to spinners up and down the UK to understand their worries. -
“Birmingham’s moment”
✍️ Zee Zaidi breaks down how Warwickshire have revamped their stadium and revenue potential since 2020. -
“Demons below the surface”
✍️ Giles Wilcock remembers the impact (and struggles) of the first great all-rounder that often seems forgotten from the history books, Aubrey Faulkner. -
“It was a finite period of total magic”
🔒 Nick Friend remembers the cultural boom of the Woodworm bat in the 2000s.
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“Inside the mind of an IPL winner”
🎤 Phil Walker talks to RCB Director Mo Bobat about working with the team, identifying the right talent, and building a good franchise side. [Apple/Spotify] -
“I Want To Be The World’s Biggest Finisher”
📽️ AB de Villiers talks to Shreyanka Patil about RCB, her batting technique, and her goal of becoming the ultimate finisher. There’s so much to like about this franchise – apart from the bloody franchise itself. [YouTube] -
“How Australian summers will change”
📽️ Ian Higgins & Sam Perry talk to Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg about the implications of shorter Ashes, privatising the BBL, & AUS v IND’s vision for cricket. [YouTube] -
“Afghanistan Came From Nothing”
📽️ Beard before Wicket talk to the (annoyingly clean shaven) Rahmanullah Gurbaz about his and AFG’s rise in recent years. [YouTube]