Pakistan, April 13 -- Each PSL season brings with it the same feverish hype: packed stadiums, choreographed hashtags, and commentators pitching it as "Pakistan's brand reborn."

And yes, the cricket has been phenomenal. But scratch beneath the surface of the floodlights and fireworks, and a darker truth flickers and you are forced to come across a scathing commentary that says more about the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and our systemic dysfunctions than we care to admit.

Let's begin with what should be celebrated: PSL has united a fractured nation. For a few overs each night, Karachi cheers for Peshawar, and a Lahori idolizes a Balochistani pacer. It's a glimpse of what collective energy can look like in a country too often at odds with...