unCONTROVERSIALLY yours

LOCATION
ISLAMABAD SPORTS INSTITUTION Office

PURPOSE
Interview

SUBJECT
Shoaib Akhtar

OCCASION
Book Release Review - unCONTROVERSIALLY yours!!!!

A sudden media carnage began the moment Shoaib Akhtar announced the release of his first literary outing - an autobiography, inaptly titled unCONTROVERSIALLY yours. His revelations from the passages of the book created what the covert intent was!!!! A fully flowing free fund publicity exercise without having much to do than to dress up nattily and camp at television news studios. That the public outcry would be so deafening was not planned for - the book release was kept on hold and Shoaib packed off to Pakistan. The ever-so-persistent-me could not wait further to unravel the biggest truths of the cricket world - maestros' fear factors!!!! In my attempt to get behind the prose and unravel the facts, here I am at the ISI office in Islamabad, in conversation with Shoaib Akhtar.

ME
So Shoaib, how does it feel to be back from India- bruised and banished?

SA
Oh, no... not at all... I mean I had a whale of a time in India.

ME
But, your book release did not happen in Mumbai as was planned and your publisher is contemplating the printing of any fresh copies so how do you justify that you had a whale of a time.

SA
That's what I mentioned, I had a time like a whale who is pulled out of water while being fished. As for my publisher not printing more copies - we are planning to sell this as a limited edition series in the UK. There will be a book launch in London in the coming days.

ME
Wow!!!! You have managed quite a coup!!!! From Mumbai to London!!!!

SA Yes- all Pakistani cricketers (present or ex) go to the UK and wash our dirty linen and live a semi dignified life. When our country slams us and shuns us- London becomes a safe haven for us. Butt is also planning a cricket academy in London as he is planning to permanently base himself out of London as his court case is going on.

ME
Ok, Shoaib - point taken. Now coming to the most important questions that I want to cover in this interview:-
Was Sachin really afraid of your bowling?
What raw deal did you get from Shahrukh Khan?

SA
Good that you have raised these questions. The Indian media never gave me a chance to explain what I was trying to explain for quite sometime before the book was launched. I have written what is the truth. Why should I be afraid of writing the truth?

ME
Calm down, can you narrate the entire incident on the day when you felt Sachin was afraid of you or was this a regular feeling?

SA (picking up a copy of the book) - This is a recurring feeling I get on a regular basis. I am being categorical that on some days and in some matches - I could sense a palpable fear in Sachin. There used to be a dot of a worry in his eye when I used to bowl to him. At other times, he used to be his usual self. If you go through the book, I have explained things in great detail.

It was a dreadful morning after a night of partying and alcohol. My head was spinning and aching away to glory. Today was the first match against India and we were in Kolkatta Eden Gardens. I was obviously not looking in my element. The team meeting was happening in front of me but it was all a blur for me to fathom anything. Wasim bhai came up to me and gave me a white tablet and told me to take it - it would make me feel better. Asprin, I thought and took it. Within a couple of minutes- the metamorphosis was amazing!!!! The throbbing pain had given way to a light-headed feeling and I felt so fluffy and light. I was chatting away to a dozen with somebody ...or was I chatting with myself?

As I walked into the ground, the chilly English weather was a perfect companion to my energized demeanour. I had to bowl the first over. The only befuddling thought that minorly scrapped through my head was - why were there no Pakistani crowds in the stands today? Normally Essex is full of them.... probably they would come in later...

As I started measuring my steps for the run up, I could literally feel the cold wind hit my visage with an unrestrained fury. Sachin was taking his guard. Why was he trembling? I am sure I could see his legs wobble and go unsteady... this in turn brought out the lion in me. Even as I started taking my run up, I was shouting and grunting... there it was .... I could see in Sachin's eye - a distinct worry in his eyes... about my pace and the speed of delivery I guess!!!!

I came in and bowled at a super hurricane speed. What happened after that remains unclear to me till this day. There was a dazzling of light, a crackle of sound and the next thing I remember is Wasim bhai walking up to me and telling me to bowl slow and then take a break after the last delivery of the over. I had a I was doing an action replay a couple of times and recollect that each action replay was followed by a crackle of a sound. Just as the action replay got over, I was told that my over was done and that I could proceed to the pavilion.
As I walked back to the dressing room - I remember with a clear distinction - India was at 36 runs for no wicket. I was feeling elated in my head - we have restricted India to only 36 in the entire match!!!!! Then I just hit the dressing room and slept off the entire day.

This is the excerpt that was taken up. I swear I saw Sachin trembling that day.

ME
Shoaib, but as per what you have described - I believe you were under the influence of some drug. Sachin was not afraid of you but was afraid for you. He was afraid that you may just blow up under the influence of the drug and may do something foolish like hitting the batsman or abusing the umpire etc. By the way, the dazzle and the crackle you described was the sixer that Sachin hit for each of your 6 deliveries in that match.

SA
All I have been saying is that I am being quoted out of context. Nobody was willing to listen to me. Imran bhai went to the extent of calling me a dope-headed maniac. I guess I forgot to mention that I was doped in the match during the interviews :)

ME
Well, nobody can blame you as well... you wanted free publicity and you got it but it was just too much to be managed that it became a problem.

SA
Yes- that s something that I had not anticipated. I think I overdid it. Watching too much of Rakhi Sawant interviews was the culprit. My media manager was earlier handling Rakhi's media briefings. I have learnt my lesson.

ME
Now coming to the next important question, what problems do you have with Shahrukh Khan?
SA
Well, I came to IPL into KKR with the only one intention and that was to get myself a firm footing into Bollywood. Earlier I was into discussions with Mahesh Bhatt but he offered me a negative role. Now, I have always been a bad man in my real life, if I played the same in my reel life, I would not be acting. Hence I refused.
Bhatts were making Jannat at that time and they wanted me in that movie. Mahesh Bhatt felt that this would be the best launch pad for me as I just had do to what I do in my normal life only that it would be in front of a camera.
At that time, Shahrukh bhai told me that he was looking for a fresh face for his upcoming production. Shahrukh told me that he was looking for a lead role for his home production. I am now repenting for refusing that one as well. The role was that of Ra.One