Book: Sultan: A memoir
Author: Wasim Akram and Gideon Haigh
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 297
inam ul rehman
During the launch of his book Wasim Akram went around the town trying to gain sympathy by stating his countrymen accuse him of being a match-fixer elsewhere he is loved for his cricketing achievements. What Akram forgets is that despite these allegations he has the highest endorsements in Pakistan. And is invited in most TV shows!
Primarily it seems that he has penned this book to clear himself from match-fixing scandals that he was alleged to be involved. And the ire of his falls on the crusader against match fixers-– Rashid Latif.
Wasim details why he didn’t play in the 1996 quarter-final match against India, which Pakistan lost. According to Wasim, not disclosing his injury in that crucial game in Bengaluru was “for fear of buoying India and dismaying our own players”. But, why didn’t he reveal the same thing to his players? There was a gap of 3 days, yet he didn’t consider his teammates worthy to disclose his injury or his plan! His last-minute withdrawal was a shock for the Pakistani team rather than India. He blames Rashid and Aamir Sohail for cooking up match-fixing rumours. Aamir has said a number of times he was informed just 5 minutes before the toss that he would captain the team instead of Wasim, which shocked him. The author tries to insinuate Aamir in match-fixing.
Make up stories
Before you start to read the review of the book, let me remind you of an incident. Wasim was a guest on some Indian channel where he was narrating many stories of his playing days. Among them, he narrated a story. It takes place during the Delhi Test match 1999, Anil Kumble had already taken 9 wickets in the 4th innings against Pakistan, when Waqar Younis batting alongside Wasim allegedly tells him that he will deny Kumble the distinction of taking all the 10 wickets by getting himself run out. As per Wasim he told Waqar it is against sportsmanship and he will not do it. Wasim got the requested claps on the show.
However, Waqar denied it in a tweet and wrote that Wasim has a habit of telling lies. Wasim, as his is his wont, initially denied he made such a statement but later deleted the tweet! And if you see Wasim on Indian television shows you would come to know that he often makes up stories.
Post his retirement Wasim, when commentating on any cricket match, comes as a person full of himself, and his book is no different. Here is one example https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xTDxJhuZlu4.
Ire toward Rashid Latif and Majid Khan
As a captain he didn’t bring any new players who could play Pakistan for long. Rashid in comparison gave Pakistan, Mohammad Yousuf, Umar Gul, Mohammad Hafeez, et al, in his short stint as a captain.
The former wicketkeeper batsman, Rashid, considered by most cricketers and cricket experts as the best Pakistani wicketkeeper ever, put his career on stake by being a whistle-blower against match fixing. While Wasim is ready to believe Aussies accusing Saleem Malik of trying to bribe them, he dismisses Rashid’s every accusation without any proof!
After the 1996 world cup fiasco Wasim made sure that Rashid, along with Basit Ali, Aaqib Javid, et al, do not play more. He almost finished the career of Rashid, but the latter proved insurmountable and with his performance made comebacks and retired on his own. But the author in his vengeance for Rashid gets his facts wrong. It was under Inzimam’s leadership Pakistan managed to lose the ODI series 2-3 against South Africa despite winning the first two matches in succession. Rashid and Wasim were joint top scorers in the 2003 world cup match against Australia, but the latter claims to be the top scorer! Similarly, Wasim claims Saeed Anwar led them when the Sri Lanka team defeated them in Sri Lanka. Another factual error. It was the home series of 1999/00 where Saeed led them in the first two Tests and lost both.
Rashid was the first to caution the ICC regarding spot-fixing in 2003 (7 years later the trio of M Aamir, M Asif and Salman Bhat were caught in spot-fixing scandal) for which he was severely reprimanded by the PCB.
The former captain also belittles Majid Khan and tries to bring in Imran Khan angle in his story (Imran Khan dropped his cousin Majid Khan from the team, and according to Wasim, Majid never reconciled with this decision). The fact is that Majid Khan, as the head of the PCB, tried to clean up the match fixing mess, it was the reason when he selected the team for the tour of Bangladesh, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in 1998, he dropped Wasim, Salim Malik and recalled Rashid to captain the team. But once Majid was replaced midway, Wasim wormed his way into the team which created rifts and the Pakistan cricket team which was leading 3 Test series against South Africa lost the last Test in which Akram participated.
Subsequently, Rashid resigned from the captaincy, didn’t play for another 3 years. Aamir Sohil took the responsibility and had to deal with alleged match-fixers Salim Malik and Wasim in the team, which resulted Pakistan losing the home series against Australia and minnows Zimbabwe as well.
Seeking advice from Imran Khan
Once the great all-rounder Imran Khan retired or was forced to retire from international cricket, the great Pakistani batter Javid Miandad often complained about Imran's influence in ousting him as a captain. Wasim lends some credence to it. The latter always took suggestions from Imran and refused to listen to his senior pros. Like when the drug incident involving Wasim, Waqar, Mushtaq, and Aaqib Javid in the West Indies happened, Javid Miandad and Rameez Raja insisted Wasim to cancel the tour. However, he sought Imran Khan’s advice and continued with the tour which resulted the Windies team mauling Pakistan 2 nil in the 3 Test match series. Wasim, like a kid, almost every time sought Imran’s advice which reflects his lack of confidence in himself.
Wasim was given captaincy when Pakistan cricket was challenging the West Indies team for the unofficial Test championship, but sadly he does not write anything on plans to dethrone the latter and claim the number one status. In fact, Wasim does not mention any tour planning. It seems in the 90s the Pakistan cricket team didn’t plan how to win overseas or how to bowl out particular players.
Wasim also tries to insinuate about Justice Qayoom commission report but does not write why he didn’t challenge it? While Justice Qayoom had a professed soft corner for Wasim, which resulted in the latter being exonerated from any ban by citing there are no conclusive proofs, strangely the same commission imparted life ban on Salim Malik without any solid evidence!
Once you read the book, remember Wasim makes up many stories most of which have been denied by his teammates. Wasim’s case of clearing himself from match-fixing also seems one of those stories. After Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan, Wasim Akram was the greatest Pakistani fast bowler, but unlike them, he won’t be remembered as a clean cricketer.
Pic Courtesy: @wasimakramlive
