Batta Fast
Ahmer Naqvi
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Ahmer Naqvi (and occasionally Osman Samiuddin) explore cricket beyond the runs and wickets, delving into the larger sociocultural context of the sport. The podcast examines how cricket intersects with politics, history, and identity, offering a unique perspective for fans and newcomers alike.
Epizodes
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FIFA World Cup - Quarterfinals etc with Tiddy - Episode 96 13.07.2026 1h 6minOur beloved Quaid joins the fray as we do a casual fan uncle mode breakdown of VAR, the bad vibes of the QFs, Ahmer's secret love for colonisers and more. -
FIFA World Cup - R16 Analysis - Episode 95 09.07.2026 1h 20minFIFA ki Princess kaun? Why Mbappe is the goat, Maradona > Messi, the greatness of Jude, bye bye Portugal y Paraguay and more... -
FIFA World Cup - R32 Analysis - Episode 94 02.07.2026 1h 15minBack at it. -
FIFA World Cup - First Thoughts - Episode 93 18.06.2026 1h 34minWhat an amazing World Cup it's already been! After all the cringe, oppression and hate from Gianni and Trump, the first set of matches have already blown our minds. -
Babar, Kingsmen, and a distressing PSL - Episode 92 21.05.2026 58minThe conversation delves into the impact of Babar Azam's performance in the PSL and the cultural significance of his achievements. It also explores the success and impact of the Hyderabad team, shedding light on their social media engagement and demographic reach. Also covers the impact of the test series defeat in Bangladesh. -
PSL Midseason Review with Osman Episode 91 07.04.2026 1h 13minOsman is back! We try and enjoy what we can from this PSL season while inevitably discussing depressing things because of course... -
Episode 29 | #AUSvPAK 3rd Test 1st Day Review | 03.01.2024 30minOn an eventful first day of the final Test of the tour, Pakistan put up a fighting total despite an early morning collapse. But as discussed here, its the bowling that has led to more heartbreaks than the batting.Follow us on Youtube! -
Saeed ka Suna Tha, Saim ko Dekha Hai - PAK vs SA Men's ODI review - Episode 73 26.12.2024 1h 1min00:00 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! -
Episode 54 - Batta Fast at the T20 World Cup - Tournament Review and ranking Pak's worst ICC events 18.06.2024 1h 5minAs our period of massive viewcounts (lol) ends before it really began, we review a depressing campaign, outline the many causes for failure, and end up ranking the worst ICC events for the Pakistan's men's team this century.0:30 Batta Fast revenue streams destroyed2:00 Babar's captaincy, the fallout, the tactical issues11:00 Why PSL success hasn't translated for this team18:00 A look at PCB's mystifying selection process22:00 Disastrously unstable era at the PCB24:20 "Even for Pakistan cricket, this is a wild era"36:00 Reviewing this tournament in light of others37:30 Ranking the all-time worst ICC events for Pakistan38:30 2006 Champions Trophy40:30 2007 ODI World Cup44:00 2009 Champions Trophy (the fallout)48:00 2013 Champions Trophy49:00 2015 ODI World Cup51:00 2014 T20 World Cup52:00 2016 T20 World Cup55:00 2023 ODI World Cup59:00 Final RankingsFollow us on Youtube! -
Episode 64 - Batta Fast Manjan - The CCs (Champs Connection Central Contract Camp Cup) 28.09.2024 1h 5minIn this episode of Bata Fast, we look at three CCs - Champions Cup, Connection Camp and Central Contracts. We also look at the less alliterative England series. 00:00 Introduction and Context of the Podcast03:05 Assad's Call for Positivity in Cricket Commentary09:03 The Nature of Journalism and Reporting11:58 CC Tournament Structure and Its Impact on Performance17:56 The Role of Central Contracts and Player Management27:09 Connection Camp39:00 Central Contracts and how no one understands their purpose53:00 Previewing the England SeriesFollow us on Youtube! -
Episode 21 - Batta Fast at the World Cup 24.11.2023 1h 5minWe debate India's knockout record, the toss and the pitch, Australia's unreal performance(s), and takeaways for a few others.Follow us on Youtube! -
Why Tapeball is Decolonized Cricket - Episode 86 30.10.2025 47minAn 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! -
When Does A Rivalry End? Episode 85 21.10.2025 30min"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! -
Noman Ali and the Aesthetics of Pakistan Cricket - Episode 84 15.10.2025 37min"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! -
Whitewashed Again - The Pakistan Injury Curse - Two Tier WTC - Afghanistan Boycott - Episode 75 11.01.2025 1h 2min00:00 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! -
Pakistan vs England 3rd Men's Test Preview - Episode 68 24.10.2024 59minIss haftay hum ne episode mei title baad mei likha hai.00:00 Introduction and Match Preview02:55 Pindi pitch and the toss06:01 Gillespie ka GOAT quote14:58 Plot twist - the pitch kept lower than it turned17:52 Celebrating Sajid & Noman23:05 The challenges of captaining a 1+3 spin attack31:34 In praise of Jamie Smith40:00 Ranking both team's chances52:50 Plans for SA & WI series and revisionism on pitchesFollow us on Youtube! -
Episode 31 Batta Fast Manjan #3 - Millennial vs Gen Z fans | T20 World Cup thoughts | #NZvPAK 14.01.2024 53minTwo great cricket writers, Rameen (@rameenwhile) and Raiyan (@CricCritic2) join the show to discuss the two games from the New Zealand series, their thoughts on the T20 World Cup, and their take on how older cricket fans view the game.Read this beautiful take by Rameen on Sundays and cricket: https://medium.com/@rameensalman/on-sundays-and-cricket-410620ed02d5Here's a fascinating article by Raiyan on Pakistan's ideal T20 batterhttps://medium.com/@raiyan201/pakistans-ideal-t20-batter-4554848a481Follow us on Youtube! -
Episode 59 - The Legend of Arshad Nadeem 13.08.2024 55min"He is the first splash on a blank canvas, the first flick of a torchlight into the abyss. If ever an athletics legacy will be built - though don't hold your breath - it will start with him."From Osman's article: https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/40801739/paris-olympics-2024-pakistan-gold-medal-javelin-all-hail-improbable-arshad-nadeem-first-maybe-last-kindWe try our best to capture the unprecedented nature of Arshad Nadeem's Olympic record shattering moment.0:00 Arshad Nadeem's Gold medal - Pakistan's greatest sporting achievement?5:24 Overcoming obstacles - Arshad's remarkable journey9:20 Ya Ali and the folk-hero15:07 The institutional obstacles for Pakistnai athletes20:49 Earning money in non-traditional careers in Pakistan27:50 India's sporting industrial complex40:00 The realities Arshad deals with43:30 The world's reactions48:50 The magic of the Olympics51:00 The magical last throwFollow us on Youtube! -
Episode 30 | #AUSvPAK 3rd Test, 3rd Day Review | Micro-dosing khushiyan | Sexy Saim | Aamer Danger 05.01.2024 36minAs closely fought as a whitewash can get, Shan Masood's team continues to put in some of the best performances by Pakistan in Australia, admittedly a low-bar. We discuss Jamal's heroics, Saim's sexiness, and the joys of test cricket.Follow us on Youtube! -
Episode 41 - Batta Fast at the PSL - Midseason Review 06.03.2024 1hGuess who's back? We take a look at each of the PSL sides and how their seasons have gone 8 games in. From realising that Karachi Kings, not Lahore, are the worst PSL side ever to getting excited about everyone from Saim Ayub and Khwaja Nafay to Hunain Shah and Arif Yaqoob, we cover all the highs and lows of the season so far.0:00 Intro1:39 Lahore Qalandars - the funnest team in the PSL10:51 Karachi Kings - the absolute worst thing about Karachi21:26 Islamabad United - wait, why are these guys not good?31:20 Peshawar Zalmi - wait, these guys are good?40:12 Quetta Gladiators - the Saify in the room...50:00 Multan Sultans - the unsexy dynastyFollow us on Youtube!
