Loud Thinking

Archive for February, 2025

The Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB) chairman must take bold, corrective, and drastic administrative and technical steps to address the severe public backlash following the team’s disastrous performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. To dampen the anger of fans and stem the rot in PCB, the following immediate actions should be taken:

1. Overhaul the Selection Committee & Team Management

• Sack the current selection committee responsible for poor team selection and appoint competent former cricketers having proven success records with a merit-based approach.
• Fire underperforming coaching staff and hire internationally reputed professionals with a modern cricketing approach.
• Appoint a psychologist and performance analyst to address the team’s repeated mental and strategic failures. 2. Accountability for Players & Leadership
• Remove ALL underperforming senior players and introduce fresh, talented youngsters.
  Reassess the captaincy in all formats based on leadership qualities, not favouritism.
• Introduce performance-based central contracts, where salaries and perks are linked to individual and team performances. 3. Revamp Domestic Cricket Structure
• Restore a strong domestic cricket structure, including departmental teams, to create competition.
• Increase domestic players’ salaries to discourage reliance on T20 leagues and ensure commitment to Pakistan cricket. 4. Strengthen the Fitness & Discipline Culture
• Implement a strict fitness benchmark like Australia and England.
• Enforce zero tolerance for indiscipline, including penalties for players prioritizing leagues over national duty. 5. Structural Reforms in PCB
• Depoliticize PCB by removing unqualified individuals from key positions.
• Hire experienced cricket administrators with a professional vision for long-term development.
• Introduce transparency in team selection and management decisions to regain public trust. 6. Fan & Media Engagement
• Hold a public press conference, apologize to the nation, and present a roadmap for reforms.
  Establish an independent grievance redressal system where fans and former players can raise concerns about the team’s management.
• Ensure regular performance reviews of players and coaches, with clear consequences for repeated failures. 7. Invest in Grassroots & Talent Development
• Open high-performance centres across Pakistan for young cricketers.
• Improve pitches and facilities at the clubs, educational institutions, and domestic levels.
• Launch PCB-backed scholarships for talented players to train abroad.

8. Review of PSL’s Role in National Team Development

• Ensure PSL performances are not the only criteria for national team selection.
• Use PSL as a platform for grooming new talent rather than favouring established, declining players. 9. Immediate Inquiry & Public Report on the Champions Trophy Debacle
• Form a high-level independent committee to investigate the reasons for the failure.
• Publish a transparent report and take strict actions against those responsible. 10. Appoint a Strong & Respected Head Coach
• Bring in a top-level international coach with experience in winning ICC tournaments.
• Ensure that the coach has full authority over team matters, free from internal politics.

By implementing these drastic measures, the PCB chairman can begin damage control, address public outrage, and lay the foundation for long-term success in Pakistan cricket. If such actions are not taken immediately, public trust in the PCB and the national team will continue to decline.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore.
+92 321 9402157

Pakistani cricket hit rock bottom after last year’s World Cup match loss to the weak team of the USA. However, considering that Pakistan’s name, prestige and reputation is at stake, the team’s dismal performance in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 further highlights that the core issue lies in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selectors and coaches. A complete overhaul of PCB’s all selectors and coaching staff is now an urgent necessity.

In this context, the chairman PCB may immediately appoint through professional and qualified persons who can infuse the culture of merit and performance based promotion of players to improve the output at the earliest.

Tomorrow is not just a match.

Tomorrow is the start of the battle to win the ICC Champions Trophy — a test of courage, grit, and unbreakable will to win first ICC tournament being held in Pakistan after almost three decades. A battle where warriors clad in green will rise—not just to compete, but to conquer.

“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them—a desire, a dream, a vision.”
— Muhammad Ali

Pakistan, the world still echoes with the roar of 2017 —the year you defied the odds, silenced the doubters, and etched your name in history. You lifted the ICC Champions Trophy, proving that Pakistan is a force like no other. And now, it’s time to do it AGAIN!

One Team. One Nation. One Heartbeat.

Victory isn’t just about wanting it—everyone wants to win. It’s about the fire in your heart, the steel in your mind, and the relentless determination to make it happen.

Are you ready to sweat, to fight, to chase every run, every ball, every moment as if your very soul is on the line? Because that’s what legends do. That’s what champions do.

When you step onto the field tomorrow, let there be FIRE IN YOUR HEARTS AND ICE IN YOUR VEINS!

It is not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters.
— Evander Holyfield

Rise. Roar. Conquer.

For every Pakistani watching.
For every child who dreams of wearing this jersey.
For every heartbeat that races when you take the field—DO NOT HOLD BACK!

Bowl like thunder.
Bat like warriors.
Field like panthers.

There is nothing impossible to him who will try.
— Alexander the Great

Pakistani flag bearers—give your all, and you will take back what is yours!

This is your moment.
Your destiny.
Your history to rewrite.

PAKISTAN’S TIME TO RULE AGAIN!

JEE TAY GA PAKISTAN!

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore.

+92 321 9402157

The road to the CT25 semifinals appears extremely difficult for the Pakistani cricket team, especially after two disappointing losses against New Zealand as we must win our first two matches of our group against the teams of New Zealand and India respectively. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors have made some questionable choices, leaving the team’s chances hanging by a thread, there is still a glimmer of hope. However, this hope hinges on bold, immediate action from the PCB chairman. By taking direct charge and implementing the following strategic measures, Pakistan may still turn the tide and secure a place in the semifinals and even go on to win the ICC ChampionsTrophy 25:

1. Revamp the Opening Pair: The team should open with either Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah or Fakhar Zaman and Tayyub Tahir The primary objective for the opening pair must be to score 80+ runs within the first 10 powerplay overs, setting a strong foundation.
2. Restructure the Batting Order:

• Babar Azam should bat at No. 3 to stabilize the innings and anchor the middle order.
• Agha Salman should follow at No. 4, bringing flexibility and momentum.
• Muhammad Rizwan should bat at No. 5 to capitalize on his finishing abilities.
• Naseem Shah should be promoted above Shaheen Shah Afridi at No. 9 to strengthen the tail-end batting.

1. Sharpen Fielding Focus: To enhance catching standards, all 10 fielders and the bowler must maintain a mindset that every delivery could bring a catch their way. This will keep players mentally and physically alert, reducing fielding lapses.
2. Improve Throwing Accuracy: Fielders should rigorously practice one-bounce throws to the stumps by repeating the exercise continuously till the time three consecutive hits at the stumps. Research has shown that one-bounce throws are more likely to hit the stumps than direct throws.
3. Consider Strategic Player Replacements: If at any stage the tournament rules allow player substitution due to injury, the PCB should introduce a specialist spinner from Sufiyan Muqeem, Noman Ali, or Sajid Khan. This adjustment could provide the team with the spin advantage they currently lack.

Additional Recommendations:

• Tactical Bowling Changes: Utilize powerplay overs with attacking field placements and consider rotating bowlers more aggressively.
  Mental Conditioning: Appoint a sports psychologist to boost team morale and help players handle pressure situations more effectively.
• Flexible Strategy: Be ready to adapt strategies based on pitch conditions and opposition strengths.

By swiftly implementing these measures, the Pakistani team can maximize their remaining chances and possibly achieve the remarkable feat of reaching the CT25 semifinals and even go on to win for the first time any ICC tournament held in Pakistan.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore.
+92 321 9402157

Dear Mohsin Naqvi,

اسلام وعلیکم

Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the timely and remarkable completion of the Lahore and Karachi cricket stadiums.

Achieving this feat in such a short span—what seemed not just difficult but nearly impossible—is a testament to your unwavering dedication and relentless efforts.

You truly deserve immense appreciation for this achievement.

There is no doubt that the quality, aesthetics, and structural excellence of these stadiums have been widely praised. In fact, when I inquired about the newly installed lights at Gaddafi Stadium, Mr. Aamir Sohail remarked, “It feels as if we are playing a day game under natural sunlight.”

This speaks volumes about the top-notch infrastructure now in place.

Looking ahead, if our team secures victory in the Champions Trophy 2025, history will remember you as the first chairman under whose leadership Pakistan triumphed in an ICC tournament in Pakistan.

To maximize our chances, it is imperative that we field the best possible squad. In this regard, I strongly recommend the inclusion of the following players:

1. Imam-ul-Haq – Opening batter
2. Muhammad Ali & Abbas Afridi – Fast bowlers (with Abbas Afridi also serving as a power hitter in the lower order)
3. Two spinners from the following three should be included:

• Sufiyan Muqeem
• Sajid Khan
• Nauman Ali

With these selections, Pakistan can field a well-balanced and formidable squad, giving us the best chance to reclaim ICC glory.

Wishing you continued success in your endeavours.

Best regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
03219402157
Lahore

An Urgent Letter to the Pakistani Rulers

Excellency Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan
Excellency Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Honorable Yusuf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate of Pakistan
The Honorable Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan
The Honorable Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab
The Honorable Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sindh
The Honorable Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The Honorable Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Chief Minister Baluchistan

Subject: Suggestions for Urgent Legislative and Executive Actions to Enforce and Expand Free Schooling for Deserving Children in Private Schools – A National Emergency for Pakistan’s Future

اسلام وعلیکم

I write to you with profound urgency regarding Pakistan’s catastrophic failure in enforcing free and compulsory education for underprivileged children in private schools.

Here the most important aspect of the case is that only the government of Sindh has enacted law which binds the private schools to provide free education to 10 per cent disadvantaged children as detailed below:

The Sindh Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2013 mandates that private schools in Sindh provide free education to disadvantaged children. Specifically, Section 10 of the Act outlines the responsibilities of private schools:

Section 10: Responsibility of private school for free and compulsory education

“A private school—

(a) shall provide free and compulsory education to such proportion of total strength of children admitted as mentioned hereinafter.

(b) shall admit in class-I and subsequent classes not less than ten per cent of the strength of that class to disadvantaged children.”

This means that private schools are required to allocate at least 10% of their seats in each class to disadvantaged children, providing them with free and compulsory education. The Act defines a “disadvantaged child” as one who belongs to a socially and economically disadvantaged class or group, or whose parents’ annual income is lower than the minimum limit, or whose parents have become victims of terrorism, as notified by the Government.

In view of the foregoing it is strongly suggested that the Provincial governments of the remaining three provinces namely Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the ICT may also immediately enact its respective laws to stipulate providing free education to the deserving students. in line with Article 25-A of the Constitution, so that our coming generations are not robbed of their fundamental rights enshrined under Article 25-A of the Constitution.

Pakistan stands at a historical crossroads in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and digital economies. Education is no longer just a means of progress—it is the sole determinant of survival in the modern world. With one of the lowest literacy rates in South Asia, Pakistan is on the brink of irreversible economic collapse if urgent corrective actions are not taken.
No amount of World Bank loans, foreign aid, or short-term economic policies will ever make Pakistan a prosperous and self-reliant nation unless we give the best of the best education to our children. Nations are not built by borrowed money—they are built by educated minds.

The Reality of Pakistan’s Education Crisis

 Pakistan has the worst literacy rate in South Asia, lagging behind even war-torn and crisis-ridden nations.
 Millions of children remain out of school, while in the Sindh province (where 10 per cent free education law is enacted) the private institutions violate laws with impunity.
 Without a skilled and educated workforce, AI and automation will replace millions of Pakistani jobs, making the country even more economically irrelevant in the global market.
 Global power and influence are no longer measured by military strength alone but by the quality of education a nation provides to its children, especially at the primary and secondary levels.
 The current 10% free education quota for private schools in Sindh is absurdly low, given that Pakistan is at the lowest rung of literacy. This is an emergency situation that demands an urgent increase of free education quota in all the terrorities of Pakistan to at least 30% to ensure rapid national upliftment.

Recommendations for Immediate Action
To reverse this existential threat, I strongly urge the government to take the following measures:

1. Expansion of Free Education Quota to 30%.
   • The current 10% requirement (that too only in the provinces of Sindh) is grossly insufficient and must be urgently increased all over Pakistan to 30% to address the massive education deficit. Any school or a school system not accepting this enhancement to 30 % should be taken over by the government and may be later on auctioned in a competitive bidding.
   • This should be implemented through new legislation with immediate effect, ensuring full enforcement across all private schools.
2. Special Fast-Track Courts for Education Law Violators
   • Establish special education enforcement fast track courts to prosecute private schools violating free education laws.
   • Ensure swift trials and severe punishments, including heavy fines, school closures, and legal disqualification for school owners who repeatedly defy the law.
   • Amend laws to criminalize non-compliance, leading to imprisonment for offenders.
3. Mandatory Compliance and Transparency
   • Launch a real-time online education compliance portal where private schools must report the names and details of the 30% underprivileged students enrolled.
   • Conduct regular government audits to verify compliance
4. Strict Government Oversight & Revocation of Licenses
   • Grant immediate powers to the Ministry of Education to revoke licenses of non- compliant schools.
   • Implement hefty financial penalties and direct these funds toward government education initiatives
5. Formation of a National Education Corps (NEC)
   • Establish a National Education Corps (NEC) consisting of lawyers, reputed NGOs, and relevant government departments, with the mission to go door-to-door in poor neighborhoods to ensure every eligible child is enrolled in school.
   • Armed Forces Units should provide logistical and security support to NEC teams, ensuring that every child in the nook and corner of the country is reached.
6. Integration of Polio Eradication & Health Initiatives
   • NEC should simultaneously work on polio vaccination drives, ensuring that every child receives both education and essential healthcare.
   • Grants may be sought from international donors to support both education and polio eradication efforts, strengthening Pakistan’s standing in global health and education sectors.
7. Government-Supported Reimbursement Fund
   • Establish a Private School Education Fund to support private schools that genuinely lack financial resources for free admissions.
   • Tie this fund to strict compliance measures to prevent misuse.
8. Mass Public Awareness & Legal Aid for Parents
   • Launch a nationwide awareness campaign informing parents of their legal right to free education for their children in private schools.
   • Set up free legal aid centers to assist underprivileged families in filing cases against law-breaking schools.

Epilogue: A Nation’s Future is Decided in Its Classrooms.

Pakistan will never progress or achieve prosperity unless every child, regardless of economic background, receives a world-class education. The greatest power and influence of any nation is determined by the quality of education it provides to its future generations, particularly at the primary and secondary levels.

History has proven that nations with strong education systems dominate the world, while those that neglect their children’s learning become irrelevant, weak, and dependent. Pakistan’s economic life and death now depend on one thing alone: education. This is not just a policy issue—it is a national emergency.

The government must immediately:

1. Enact laws for the free education quota to 30%.
2. Criminally prosecute all violators in special fast-track courts.
3. Deploy a National Education Corps with the Armed Forces’ logistical support to ensure no child is left behind.
4. Combine education efforts with a nationwide polio vaccination program to secure Pakistan’s future in both health and knowledge.
   This is the only path to a long-term national survival and global relevance. The world will not wait for us to catch up—either we reform our education system now or risk being permanently left behind.

I urge all of you to act immediately and decisively to save Pakistan from a future of ignorance, poverty, and global insignificance.

Sincerely,
Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore.
+92 321 9402157
1st February 2025.