"Boom Boom Afridi has resigned from international cricket."
"I am aware of that, but he should have been reconciled to the fact that he would not be allowed to lead in each and every match, he is not Imran Khan."
"He is to cricket what Imran is to politics."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Afridi is naive about the cricket selection process like Imran is naive about the political process in this country."
"Right, both are premised on having enough people behind you, in the case of cricket if not the selection board people then certainly the players, and in Imran's case enough people in enough constituencies who have a chance to win elections, and for that he needs to acknowledge that in this country people who win elections do so as per the baradari system entrenched in our rural politics."
"Yes, but the trend in the cities is changing - here we are voting on the basis of performance more than in the villages, see the MQM is..."
"I agree, and let me add that I have a profound respect for the way the MQM is organised."
"Profound is a bit too much, isn't it. You can admire but profound!"
"Well, I do have profound respect. Have you seen their jalsas - everyone is seated quietly and actually listening. I have never ever seen PML (N) or PPP jalsas that are quite as civilized."
"You think it's because of the different ethnic background of those who support MQM by and large and..."
"No I think there is a disconnect - no don't flare up I didn't mean disconnect in a negative way. All I meant was that there is a disconnect as there is no physical contact between the speaker, Altaf Bhai, and the people he is addressing."
"Don't be absurd - have you heard of video conferencing? Both sides can see and hear the other."
"I didn't think of that! You know who is the greatest Altaf Bhai admirer? Musharraf!"
"Since when?"
"Since he began to address his supporters by telephone as well and as you know imitation is the highest form of flattery."
"Yeah, I suppose but BB and Nawaz Sharif never addressed their workers from exile."
"That works too."