Print

    Book Review of Wasim Akram's Autobiography: Sultan: A Memoir

    Written by: Muhammad Suhayb
    Posted on: February 21, 2023 | | 中文

    Wasim Akram

    Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan captain and one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket, is amongst the top players produced by Pakistan. He has a huge following of cricket fans and those who have witnessed his miraculous rise as a cricketer, place him amongst the legends of the game. However, those fans who began following the game in the mid-90s, still believe that Wasim Akram was behind the controversies that rocked cricket in the 1990s. While, Sultan: A Memoir, is an authentic autobiography, Wasim Akram has responded to all those who have accused him without any evidence.

    Since retiring in 2003, Wasim Akram has rarely addressed the allegations leveled against him by the press or fellow players. Two decades after being away from the field, Wasim, Swing ka Sultan, clearly bowls out his opponents and clarifies the match-fixing charges he faced at the end of his career.

    Written by the famous writer on cricket, Australia’s Gideon Haigh, the book traces fifty-six years of Wasim Akram’s life. Gideon has also authored the autobiography of Australian leg spinner Shane Warne, and knows how to sum up the achievements of the protagonists and knows how to bring out the player’s personality. The surprisingly honest memoir reveals a great deal about Wasim, who talks about his sudden rise to stardom, his contribution to the game, his county stint at Lancashire as well as the famous World Cup win in Melbourne in 1992.

    Wasim Akram and Imran Khan

    As for relations with his team-mates, Wasim acknowledges his special bond with Imran Khan, praised the role of Javed Miandad as a captain in shaping up his career, while revealing his personal dislike for characters like Ramiz Raja, Salim Malik and Amir Sohail. It was Wasim who influenced Imran Khan to pick the rookie, Waqar Younis, for international matches. Waqar Younis and Wasim terrorized English players in the summer of 1992, however, after the infamous players’ revolt against Wasim Akram, they became rivals. Wasim also elaborates on his role in discovering the talent of Shahid Afridi, who was recalled as Mushtaq Ahmed’s replacement, and takes credit for nurturing Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar.

    Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis

    On the personal side, the first bowler to get five hundred wickets in ODIs, was open about the match-fixing allegations, clashes with his team-mates, the Justice Qayyum report, the Grenada incident of 1993 where four of the Pakistan team members were arrested for smoking marijuana, and his addiction to cocaine. After retirement, Wasim turned to coaching with stints in Indian Premier League, became a full-time commentator, but his tight schedule left him with little time from his family.

    Wasim Akram and Shaniera with Akram's parents

    Full of anecdotes, Wasim not only opens up about the infamous Bangalore Quarter final of the 1996 World Cup, but also about the other injuries that he suffered from time to time. The year 1999 was an important one for Wasim Akram as it came soon after the Nawaz-Vajpyee meeting in Lahore. The 1998/99 tour started on a sour note when the pitch at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla Ground was dug up by protestors. Chennai test ended in a thriller, where Pakistan team completed a victory lap after winning by a whisker. It was Anil Kumble who alone took all ten wickets in Delhi, squaring the series. The men in green, however, bounced back and won two more tests as part of the Asian Test Championship, along with the tri-nation ODI tournament. On the way to win the inaugural Asian Test Championship, Wasim managed to take 2 hat tricks in successive tests, becoming the only bowlers with two hat tricks in both formats of the game.

    One-year old Wasim Akram

    On his previous tour to India ten years earlier, Wasim recalls the hastily arranged Nehru Cup. Although Pakistan won the title when Wasim hit a six on the penultimate delivery of the tournament, the tight schedule and irregular travelling made it difficult to be fit before a match.

    Wasim Akram also opens up about the 1999 World Cup, where he explains what went wrong in detail. He didn’t spare the politicians, especially the ruling party and the PCB officials, who interfered repeatedly, once the team reached the Super Six stage. Even the coach and his assistant had to sit outside the dressing room in the finals, which was occupied by politicians and officials.

    Akram with Shaniera and his kids

    Carrying quotes from the star players of the ‘90s, who were tormented by Wasim’s lethal deliveries, the book also has tips and tactics revealed by the man who took 414 test wickets. Wasim reveals how he indicated to the wicket keeper, Moin Khan, that he would be bowling a no-ball, or what his strategy was before dismissing Alan Lamb or Chris Lewis in the World Cup final. Wasim Akram discusses how he was accepted as an overseas player at Lancashire and his rivalries with the greatest batsmen; the book has the drama and the controversies that dogged him over the years.

    Reading the book is like watching Wasim Akram bowl against the odds. His memoir is candid and open, rather than the usual self-congratulatory ones associated with cricketers from the sub-continent.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021









    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir



    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir, 27 October 1947, when Indian military troops forcibly occupied Kashmir illegally, claiming a fraudulent ‘Instrument of Accession’ which never existed as documented by eminent British historian Alastair Lamb! Kashmir & Palestine are examples of illegal occupation & continued Resistance to Repression! There are so many commonalities in Kashmir & Palestine: both under brutal military occupation of foreign powers, both are facing an indigenous, popular, spontaneous & widespread Resistance & Uprising, both are in violation of UN Resolutions which haven’t been implemented, both are witnessing an attempted change in the demographic balance, both are facing the use of rape as a weapon of war, both are testimony to double-standards & hypocrisy of Western powers on human rights & fundamental rights, and both conflicts have an element of racism and Islamophobia, while enduring peace, security and stability will remain elusive in both regions, South Asia & Middle East, until these issues are resolved in accordance with popular aspirations.