Could Shahid Afridi become PM of Pakistan in future?

[Bhaijaan]

He seems to be hearing up for a big role in Pakistan politics and he's having a steady run so far.

Doing great charity work.

He's going to meet Army in Kashmir, going to airplane crash sites etc to show solidarity with people

He seems to be well connected and adored by the commoners.

With Pakistan going through a political crisis in which their old major parties are struggling to connect with the masses in 2020, this is great opening for new entrants. These doors don't open so easily in our countries which are heavily dominated by dynasty politics.

Posters from Pakistan can shed more light on this. Is he entering politics? Which which party is he connected or could be connected?

Does he have a chance to make it big in politics?

 

[MenInG]

Poll added.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Poll added.

Thanks brother.

I imagine if he can use his connections sith Imran Khan well, he could spare himself the long struggle which Imran had to go through to get to the top as a politician.

Imran did not become PM for being a cricket star fact I think for years it went against him as major political parties and their paid media kept ridiculing him as norms serious candidate.

I have huge respect for Imran. It took 25 years of struggle for him to be where he is now and even now he has to fight it out every day.

The struggle helps eventually.

It will be interesting to see if Afridi is prepared for the struggle! There will be haters, it will get personal, it will get dirty.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Could? Yes. Should? No. He doesn't have the right qualities, very temperamental and more of a spokesperson and a symbol than someone who can create effective policies.

His entrance in politics will be heavily dependent on Imran's success. If IK is ousted after his first term, Afridi's chances are slim as the precedent for a cricketer entering politics and succeeding will not exist.

However, I genuinely think Imran Khan will be popular by the end of his term and will get re elected. In this case, Afridi's best bet is to join the PTI and serve as Provincial Minister or some other non-main role for several years. Learn how to become an effective politician, understand things like economics which will be a tough task for someone just starting out. People forget that behind Imran Khan's popularity was his education, with a degree in PPE from Oxford.

He is very savvy and often comes across as smarter than Nawaz Sharif for example who is a career politician.

For Afridi, the support is definitely there. The votes will be inbuilt from the common man for a lower level position. However, if he really wants to succeed, he needs to put his head down and realize he would do more harm to the country by taking a top level position without the adequate knowledge to back it up.

It would be disastrous for Pakistan to elect someone like him based on just the fact that he is a strong personality (think Donald Trump in terms of experience levels). But it's Pakistan. So it'll probably happen anyways.

 

[Mueez]

Pretty accurate post by [MENTION=151892]Thunderbolt14[/MENTION]

Couldn’t agree more with you!

 

[Bhaijaan]

Is it a foregone conclusion that Afridi if at all he joins politics will side with Imran Khan?

Can other parties woo him to rival Imran Khan maybe?

 

[Xoib]

Afridi lacks Imran perseverance even if he gets there it will be a different and more easier route then IK took.

 

[Savak]

Imran was a globally respected renowned figure who could have made millions like the Clinton's, Obama's via the lecture circuit. Afridi lacks the international appeal and his appeal is only restricted to Pakistan but that will still be enough to get into politics in Pakistan.

Would like to know his policies on domestic and international issues, I suspect they will be very naive

 

[King-Misbah]

Afridi can not become a PM, he can not hack pressure. Even so, someone like Afridi is not mature or intellect enough to be PM.

 

[sweep_shot]

I don't think he should be PM. He is too emotional.

He is no Imran Khan.

 

[Bigboii]

Is it a foregone conclusion that Afridi if at all he joins politics will side with Imran Khan?

Can other parties woo him to rival Imran Khan maybe?

Nah probably for a year or two but his ego is too much he'll be in the PTI and than get his own party I don't see him surviving under a leader

And PTI at this MOMENT is the only national type of party with base everywhere so I don't see him going anywhere else since he sees himself just like he should as a "national" hero

Or if he goes rouge, weird or something he can go to ANP since he was a big fan bacha Khan
That's a regional party so it wouldn't suit him tbh

 

[Markhor]

Difference between Imran and Afridi was that Imran led from the front for ten years as captain, Afridi ran away from leadership in the middle of a tour.

Afridi loves to be loved, I doubt he'd want to turn himself into a polarising political figure.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Is it a foregone conclusion that Afridi if at all he joins politics will side with Imran Khan?

Can other parties woo him to rival Imran Khan maybe?

Definitely. He’s too pro-IK for the PPP and PMLN. Both of those are failed and corrupt to the core. It would be equivalent to Dhoni joining Congress.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Her also doesn’t have the stamina to create his own party. Only way forward us through the PTI.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Definitely. He’s too pro-IK for the PPP and PMLN. Both of those are failed and corrupt to the core. It would be equivalent to Dhoni joining Congress.

Congress in India has been sidelined primarily for two reasons.

1. People are bored as Congress party has been in government for 80% of the time since independence

2. A large section of Hindus in India started seeing Congress as too soft on muslims. Not a party which cares to show muslims their true auqat in India like BJP does.



Congress's brand value is under appreciated. They maybe unpopular right now but they are nowhere near as polarizing as BJP. A lot people may not favour them but they don't hate them either, at least nowhere near as much as the level hate people have for BJP.

Celebrities don't have time to struggle in politics. They will align themselves with whichever party is more likely to regain power.

Having said that BJP, even though Bollywood has shamelessly remained quiet on them, have not got any big fish on board during these 6 years. Just a number of B grade celebs , Congress's celebrity list right now is as good or even better .

But as time passes and Modi's position gets even weaker, and it will get weaker, celebs are more likely to regain their confidence in joining Congress rather than BJP.

In 2020, a.celebrated figure cannot join BJP if he/she really cares about not being labelled fascist and be the butt of jokes for the liberal comedians.

 

[moghul]

If Bilawal can be a candidate why not him. They have similar IQ, but hope none of them will become PM. Pakistan deserves better.

 

[Bigboii]

If Bilawal can be a candidate why not him. They have similar IQ, but hope none of them will become PM. Pakistan deserves better.

But but but he can't speak English like our gora masters

We have to keep the legacy alive

 

[Bhaijaan]

People do surprise you however.

Afridi the retired cricketer, father to five daughters, charitable icon of Pakistan and Afridi the slogger aren't exactly the same persons.

He may surprise you

 

[Giannis]

Nope. He's a jock, him being PM is as bad as LeBron being President. I don't think he knows what a Pythagorean theorem is or what basic science principle, like does he even know that mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell?!?!? Nope. Perhaps if he had a degree in political science and/or international relations like Imran Khan then he could be a serious candidate.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

What a joke of a thread. PM ko mazak banadiya.

Is Shahid Afridi literate at all? Can he read and write in urdu? English or Pashto? I don't think so.

He is doing a good job at being face of charity and he should stick to it.

 

[ElRaja]

i dont agree with the poll, the idea that you have to be in some way qualified to lead pakistan is, given historic precedent, patently untrue.

the cold hard truth is that if the army believe that he will make a good "statesman", they will back him and he will pbly get the job.

 

[moghul]

What a joke of a thread. PM ko mazak banadiya.

Is Shahid Afridi literate at all? Can he read and write in urdu? English or Pashto? I don't think so.

He is doing a good job at being face of charity and he should stick to it.

He is a better candidate than Bilawal, both are high school drop outs but Afridi at least did something for Pakistan and he can speak in Pakistan's national language.

 

[Giannis]

He is a better candidate than Bilawal, both are high school drop outs but Afridi at least did something for Pakistan and he can speak in Pakistan's national language.

Not a Bilawal fan but he graduated from Oxford, albeit a legacy admit.

 

[Giannis]

i dont agree with the poll, the idea that you have to be in some way qualified to lead pakistan is, given historic precedent, patently untrue.

the cold hard truth is that if the army believe that he will make a good "statesman", they will back him and he will pbly get the job.

Well most Pakistani PMs have been educated apart from Nawaz Sharif.

 

[ElRaja]

Well most Pakistani PMs have been educated apart from Nawaz Sharif.

i didnt mean in a literal sense, i meant it in a more figurative sense, the poll mentioned "qualities".

i dont believe a formal higher education is a make or break for being a leader of a country fwiw, given you have displayed competency, leadership, fortitude, intellect, ingenuity and work ethic in another discipline.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Not a Bilawal fan but he graduated from Oxford, albeit a legacy admit.

Oxford doesn’t consider legacy.

Bilawal’s admission was because his last name is Bhutto.

(There’s a subtle difference — legacy applies to any kid of an Oxford alum.)

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Congress in India has been sidelined primarily for two reasons.

1. People are bored as Congress party has been in government for 80% of the time since independence

2. A large section of Hindus in India started seeing Congress as too soft on muslims. Not a party which cares to show muslims their true auqat in India like BJP does.



Congress's brand value is under appreciated. They maybe unpopular right now but they are nowhere near as polarizing as BJP. A lot people may not favour them but they don't hate them either, at least nowhere near as much as the level hate people have for BJP.

Celebrities don't have time to struggle in politics. They will align themselves with whichever party is more likely to regain power.

Having said that BJP, even though Bollywood has shamelessly remained quiet on them, have not got any big fish on board during these 6 years. Just a number of B grade celebs , Congress's celebrity list right now is as good or even better .

But as time passes and Modi's position gets even weaker, and it will get weaker, celebs are more likely to regain their confidence in joining Congress rather than BJP.

In 2020, a.celebrated figure cannot join BJP if he/she really cares about not being labelled fascist and be the butt of jokes for the liberal comedians.

Definitely agree, I guess there is a similar stereotype with joining PPP or PMLN. Afridi cannot join them if he really cares about being seen as an honest politician (which is a crucial part of his appeal). His appeal is centered around being an honest outsider already successful in cricket and charity and now bringing that honesty to politics.

He can’t play the smart angle and does not know how to play a populist angle. The only option left is PTI

 

[MenInG]

He could educate himself but as things stand now - he cannot be the chief executive of our land.

 

[Sirris]

I hope not he is doing great charity work and bringing people together. He should stick with that.

There hasn't been any other public figure who seems so close to the military than Afridi. One aspect that I don't like about him.

I hope a proper future candidate shows up soon.

 

[Giannis]

Oxford doesn’t consider legacy.

Bilawal’s admission was because his last name is Bhutto.

(There’s a subtle difference — legacy applies to any kid of an Oxford alum.)

That's my point, his heritage played a role.

 

[Bhaijaan]

A degree helps but it is not everything in our part of the world. Leaders are picked based on how well they capture the emotions of the voter.

Modi got elected not just because he's a proven muslim hater but because of the fact that his barber shop level jokes make the masses chuckle.

Same with Trump, his makes outlandish statements which somehow strike a chord with the white supremacists.

Afridi has the potential to be a mass leader.

For some, it might be a scary thought but it is what it is and if things align, Afridi's rise up the political ladder could be as fast as his 37 ball century.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

A degree helps but it is not everything in our part of the world. Leaders are picked based on how well they capture the emotions of the voter.

Modi got elected not just because he's a proven muslim hater but because of the fact that his barber shop level jokes make the masses chuckle.

Same with Trump, his makes outlandish statements which somehow strike a chord with the white supremacists.

Afridi has the potential to be a mass leader.

For some, it might be a scary thought but it is what it is and if things align, Afridi's rise up the political ladder could be as fast as his 37 ball century.

Yeah but Modi’s not exactly the best thing to happen is it. Like you said, it is definitely a scary thought. Just because it happens that uneducated people can get elected, doesn’t mean it should.

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

Afridi is someone who definitely lifts the mood of the nation. He has great intentions for the people of Pakistan. And he certainly can ring in good changes in the country. So why not?

 

[Bhaijaan]

Yeah but Modi’s not exactly the best thing to happen is it. Like you said, it is definitely a scary thought. Just because it happens that uneducated people can get elected, doesn’t mean it should.

I think people have misunderstood the question and the poll added isn't what I meant.

It's not about whether Afridi is capable of being a leader at a top post it's about if he can get there. They are two entirely different questions.

I think [MENTION=56933]ElRaja[/MENTION] understood it and pointed it out.

Does lack of education make you incompetent at handling complex policy making decisions a modern leader is supposed to handle, definitely yes.

Does lack of education hinder your political growth in subcontinent? Absolutely not. This region has a history of people with mediocre educational background dominating politics.

 

[gazza619]

i really cant see how this will ever happen.

Might be a disaster in the making. Afridi has a history of losing the plot and you cant afford to do that as head of the state (unless you are President of USA).

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I think people have misunderstood the question and the poll added isn't what I meant.

It's not about whether Afridi is capable of being a leader at a top post it's about if he can get there. They are two entirely different questions.

I think [MENTION=56933]ElRaja[/MENTION] understood it and pointed it out.

Does lack of education make you incompetent at handling complex policy making decisions a modern leader is supposed to handle, definitely yes.

Does lack of education hinder your political growth in subcontinent? Absolutely not. This region has a history of people with mediocre educational background dominating politics.

Like i said earlier, afridi definitely can. He has the popularity, just has to align himself with the right people to generate a symbol and be able to sensationalize some topic to his benefit (a la Modi, Trump, or even Imran Khan’s stance on corruption).

 

[moghul]

Is it the same Shahid Afridi who could not stand the stress of being the captain of test team after defeat by Australia and stepped down in mid-series.

 

[Nadeemp]

I hope not. He is very media savvy, no doubt. But does not hold a college degree ( not needed I know). I don’t regard him being very smart though . Great charity work though. He could easily win a seat in KP. With it without idea s helps . Maybe even karachi.

 

[Varun]

He'll resign 4 months into the job.

Then decide he's fit for purpose again 15 months later.

Rinse and repeat.

 

[corneredtiger85292]

LOL that is a laughable idea

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shahid Afridi "If I wanted to come into politics, I'd have done so long ago as many parties made me offers. I'm doing the work of a politician already by helping people. All parties support me and people support me. But I've no political aspirations. I just wish to help people"</p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1265189379103916033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shahid Afridi "What happens in future, and where Allah takes me, only He knows better. For me, only today is the most important and beautiful day" <a href="https://t.co/FGcfg8XRqf">pic.twitter.com/FGcfg8XRqf</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1269600210306715648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Mamoon]

The military is grooming him as their next puppet and he will be launched soon. There is a good chance he will become the PM within 10-15 years.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Afridi has zero percent chance of becoming prime minister. There is zero comparison with Afridi and Imran Khan. It seems people are trying to belittle Imran Khan by making this comparison.