Sultan

I'm glad it took 20 years for him to write this, because Wasim has far less to lose now - and is hence completely honest about the inner machinations of the Pakistani cricket team and management. Shocking to read about the pettiness of some people. Pak teams over the years could've been among the greatest of all time - with their talent. There's a reason that us 80s and 90s kids would dream of 'Imasgine what a cricket team we would have, if partition never happened'.this is a great book, and a must read for all cricket fans.

There is no doubt about the fact that Wasim Akram was an obscenely talented all-round Cricketer and a supreme athlete. The book 'Sultan' by Wasim Akram in collaboration with Gideon Haigh, one of the finest sports' writers in the world, is a tribute to the fabulous journey in, through and up the Cricketing ladder of the former. It starts from Wasim's growth from Ahmedpura, Mozang, Lahore, where he lived cheek-by-jowl with his mother's maternal family after his parents' separation, being very close his maternal grandmother. The book is very rich in how Wasim Akram became the bowler of swing, guile, accuracy, speed, bounce and infinite variations from the tape-ball originations in the crowded lanes and bylanes of old city of Lahore. Amongst the very many things which become evident from the book, several are sureshot to be an affront to the state of Pakistan, the people of Pakistan and the players of Pakistan, past and present. But then they are an honest commentary about the naked reality of Pakistan. That Wasim talks about the perennial insecurity of life, limb and lips within the state and the society of Pakistan, is an umpteenth reaffirmation of the basic trundling nature, from one crisis to another, of that country of 220 million. Conspiracies, conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorists are what the functional DNA of Pakistan is. The book is amply clear about how conspiracies and the accompanying shadow boxing slugs had almost destroyed the Pakistan cricket for more than a decade from early 1990s till mid-2000s, in which Wasim himself had become the centre of the cesspool. It is an absolute reality that fans are what makes cricket the Cricket in the Indian Subcontinent. They love and laugh with the cricketers, godify them, but are highly intolerant of the players' fallibilities on and off the playing arena. Pakistani populace in this regard become too much of a bugbear, with their innocence, ignorance and intemperateness, for the playing players. Pakistan cricket for much of its history has dwelt and thrived itself despite having any base to support its budding players. Most of the up and coming players hardly have any brush with the professional clubs and coaches, because of their poor and marginal backgrounds. It goes to the credit of those players' raw talent that they make it, despite the odds of regionalism, classism and severe feudalism within the ranks of selectors and selection committees. As Wasim has put it, and is a known fact, Pakistani players are vernacular in their habits and habitat. In this context, Wasim has the ability to laugh at himself, giving examples from his air journey to New Zealand for his first overseas tour and his innocent questions to Javed Miandad about the insecurity of managing the finances or his tussle with Saleem Malik, a talented batsman of Pakistan, on trying to bring a girl into his shared room. It is this rawness and obliviousness to the world's hard and hideous ways that has rendered, and still does, the players of Pakistan vulnerable to the big bad world of cheating, booking and corruption. The book is very poignant, betwixt emotional and reminiscing, about Wasim's late Wife, Huma Mufti, who died in October 2009 because of Mucormycosis infection. Wasim has called her the biggest selfless influence in his life, who not just was a mother to his two sons, but also the undaunted support for him through the thick and thin of life. It also talks about how Wasim was mulling a divorce to Huma when the latter had relentlessly forced him to undergo rehabilitation against Cocaine addiction in his post-retirement days, just before her death and how she persisted in helping Wasim to rid himself of the no let-up addiction. Most importantly, the book is thorough about what the nitty-gritty of betting and booking, alongside the nasty fake news, was in the Pakistani cricket circles post-1992. One is surprised and shocked to learn about the rampant inroads that the bookie network had made into the cricket all across the world during this period. Wasim has malice against one and all of his fellow players during this tumultuous time. Inzamam, Saeed Anwar, leggie Mushtaq Ahmad, Waqar Younus, Javed Miandad, Ramiz Raja etc all have been named by him. But he has taken Aamir Sohail, Saleem Malik, Javed Miandad and Rashid Latif as his chosen targets. In his view, they were all very niggardly, schematic and jealous. While one has every reason to call his narrative about the machinations and corruption as one-sided version, but it is also true that he never underperformed during those tough times. It begs a question, Why would he performed had he been compromised? He is effusive about Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi, being friendly with and helping towards them, but both of them in their respective books, 'Controversially Yours' and ' Game Changer', respectively, have written about him being a discouraging figure and success having gone into his head. Imran Khan is his idol throughout his playing career and later. He is presented by the author as sophisticated, studied, flamboyant, hardworking, focused and mission-driven. It looks like the closeness with Imran has brushed a degree of classist tinge on Wasim Akram. That still comes through while he commentates and narrates his stories about his ex-fellow players. Wasim wasn't just a great bowler and more-than-a-slogger, he comes through as an amiably fierce competitor to all his opposition players. While his duels with Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara are well-documented, he has a world of respect for them. He has termed New Zealand's former Captain, Martin Crowe to be the hardest batsman to bowl at. He has called Viv Richards to be the most gutsy player he has bowled to. Additionally, he talks about the acknowledgement of greatness of his opponents as his abiding trait, which helped him in becoming the Wasim Akram that the world knows today. As for his numbers, they are simply mind-boggling. 916 international wickets, 881 first class test matches, more than 6500 runs in international cricket etc are bound to let him be featured in any All-time XI. Those numbers could have been buoyed by several substantial percentage points, but for the eons-old poor fielding problem of the Pakistan cricket team and the blindsided, partisan and partial umpiring, so very central in the playing days of Wasim. Wasim is married to an Australian, Shaniera Thompson, today, 15 years his junior. He is in a happy space today, with his three children and wife, 2 boys from his first marriage and a girl from his present marriage. Several years ago, his car was shot at in Karachi, where he lives now. After registering a case against the guilty, it had later turned out that the person who had shoved out the bullet has an army background. Wasim is counselled against pursuing the case any further without raising any murmur. Wasim has called it to be the original nature of Pakistan.Pakistan cricket is alive and playing today, despite the deep fragmentation and fractures within the players and between the players and the Pakistan cricket board that have continued to dog it. Wasim is on talking terms with all his ex-colleagues today. The Deus ex machina in all of such instances is the unsophisticated ability of the people to refute and shed the dangerous streak of hatred from within them as quickly as it gets into them.Postscript:- There is a lot more in the book than this review can sum up. The one prominent souring agent throughout the book is its degree of monotonicity and visualising a victim in Wasim all the time.3.75 out of 5.

His in-depth knowledge of the game and the way he has gone about explaining the art of reverse swing, is simply amazing. I have read many autobiographies of former cricketers, but none displayed the courage and conviction to show their human side to their followers.

As compared to his illustrious career, the book is lil drab. Barring last 25 pages, rest is linear flow of his career journey. Unnecessary since all is in public domain. He might be in awe with Imran but making it obviously is taking it too far. Overall an average book.

The life of a sportsperson is full of ups & down. The legend has put forward his struggles…

If you were a fan of Wasim Akram, you'd be tempted to pick this up. Bit surprising that he came up with this after a long gap (long after his retirement). Smartly he took help of Gideon Haigh & it makes this book a nice read. You'd be surprised to know the kind of team-environment he endured all his playing days & still managed what he managed. I wondered how things may have been if the support system was robust, honest & encouraging.

Excellently written book. Unlike most of the Autobios which are narcisstic and self congratulatory , This book is a real introwpection. Must read

The best book to know about the inside story of one of the greatest fast bowlers of the game. Well explained volatility of Pakistani cricket.

I just purchased this e-book and it took me back in time. You could sense Wasim Akram's humor in it. Very well written. Nobody is perfect, and we all have a story to tell. I'm a huge fan of Wasim.

Wasim's name will be highlighted whenever the country Pakistan is brought up in conversations. A true ambassador in my opinion.The book was well put together and to a great extent honestly written. I did revisit some of Wasim's personal achievements and seemed to be a slightly off. Ex. He claimed to score 33 at MCG, against Australia defending 149. That was Moin who scored 33. He scored 1. A few others, nevertheless nothing serious.I wished he elaborated more about how and why he still chooses to joyfully share screen with Rashid on PTV and Waqar on A SPORTS if he went through all those miseries because of them. It's not a matter of having a "big heart", they caused him, his ONLY stain, which is forever going be associated when his career is talked about.Overall a good read and wish him the best of luck. As a Pakistani, I wished he received more admiration than Imran Khan, because he was more skilled and achieved more than him, realistically. (With all due respect).

Waz is my cricketing hero without any reluctance! No matter what certain crowd have to say to bring him disrepute and criticize him...The man is a legend and brought so much joy and amazing memories which i cherish forever as far as cricket is concerned.. He had great aura and air of invincibility in his playing days.. He hooked us all up when he was in action on the field and as Border said out of inspiration that if there is ever reincarnation he would return as Waz.. The man is a Giant and i always wish him well.. His children must be so proud as we all are! The book is a fascination account of his earlier struggles and landing into stardom bringing the nostalgia back.. Then the struggles and troubles in latter part of his career with fixing sagas and captaincy fiascos and team politics.. it all comes natural to our part of the world... In the end he stood tall and inspired millions to bowl left arm and bowl fast...Man i love it!!! Thanks Waz for all the beautiful memories...Huge Respect and lots of Love xxx

Good commentary on a great career.

The book is a gift and very well received