By Umer Nangiana
In his playing days, he was feared as much for his stinging pace as for his fiery words. His temper and ‘indiscipline’, both on and off field often landed him in controversy which, besides injuries, effectively shortened his career, depriving him of his true calling.
Arguably, the most feared, and certainly, the fastest bowler in the history of the game, 38-year-old Akhtar took 178 Test and 247 ODI wickets during a career spanning more than 13 years. He retired from all forms of the game following the 2011 ODI World Cup.
Waiting in the lobby of InterContinental Doha for what was supposed to be a chance meeting, one visualised a fiery Akhtar getting under the skin, but nevertheless one was ready to pepper him with a few short-pitched deliveries in return.
Talking to him for a few minutes and one could sense time has mellowed him. What would have been stinger missiles for responses in the times gone by, were replaced now with diplomatic speak — the “I will see”, “let’s see when the time comes”, “I have not decided yet” kind.
Wearing grey trousers and a loose t-shirt, Akhtar looks in fine shape. He is busy making final preparations for a flight back home.
The speed merchant was on a short trip to Doha to feature, alongside former Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Zoysa, in Doha 6s Cricket Challenge organised by Qsports.
Asked how life has been post-retirement, Akhtar says:
“There is less pressure and I get to spend more time with family. I am busy with a lot of media work. Now, I am probably going to take up coaching as well. But let’s see I have not decided yet.”
Taking the last few puffs of a cigarette, he discloses that the State Bank back home has offered him a job. “We are in talks already, we have not finalised anything as yet but yes, it is in the works,” he nods.
Born flat-footed with knee problems and coming from a humble background, it was nothing less than a miracle of sorts that he had managed to sustain his career for the time he did. Despite controversies galore, Shoaib Akhtar steaming in from a run-up that resembled a runway, in his prime, was a sight for sore eyes.
Sheer guts besides pace — his most gifted possession — perhaps, enabled him to pull through.
“Which was tougher, entering cricket or leaving it,” I ask him.
“Both, it is hard to enter cricket and it is hard to leave cricket. I have played the game for 21 years. It is not easy to leave something that you love. But then you have to get over it and move on. That’s what I did. I am not a person who looks back. Okay, so you think about it but there is nothing that you can do. So let’s move forward; there is plenty in the world to explore,” he says, fidgeting.
Akhtar keeps changing his sitting posture and is carefree in selection of words. He even speaks as he bowled —fast.
Does he think he could have played more cricket?
“Yes, easily. If I had my knee sorted out then, it would have been easier for me to carry on for another two to three years. But my passion had died and, then I have this leg,” Akhtar says, rubbing his left leg from where the knee hurts.
Was there anything unpleasant about Pakistan’s cricketing affairs that might have influenced his decision to quit?
“No, I had decided at least two to three years beforehand that this (World Cup 2011) would be my swansong. There is nothing that could have changed my mind. It is just that I had had enough,” he says before getting up.
“Come, let’s go upstairs in the room,” he motions me, visibly uncomfortable with his knee. When he walks, a slight limp is evident.
On our way to his room, Akhtar speaks about Pakistan’s politics being directionless. He says the country was struggling because “it has been run by incapable people despite having no dearth of capable people”.
Once settled comfortably in the sofa in his room, and sensing his take on politics, I feel here is an opportunity to chip in with a faster one.
“There have been rumours that you were offered a Senate seat by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in the last general elections, which you turned down after a word from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman and former cricket captain Imran Khan,” I tell him by way of a poser.
“These are all confidential things and I am not getting into details. (But) no party has approached me. Imran is very close to me and I am very close to Imran but I have not decided to enter politics. Because I don’t think that people like me or those who are very blunt and very straightforward (takes a long pause, leaving the sentence incomplete). But let’s see five years down the road, I might look into it. But right now I don’t have any plans on entering politics.”
Asked what kind of leadership was needed by Pakistan cricket, Akhtar says, “Selfless, visionary, capable. If you find such people, then you are probably on track. Those who understand cricket and cricketers, who know how to take this game forward, the cricket board and the commercial side (are the ones). But right now, I do not see any possibility of that happening,” he says in his typically no-holds-barred manner.
Pakistan has long been envied for producing an assembly of genuine pace bowlers. But of late, the cupboard seems to have gone bare. Akhtar concurs.
“No heroes, no following, no inspiration (is the reason). And then there’s the case of someone like Mohammad Irfan, for instance, who was handled badly. I have been crying hoarse to play him smartly but they did not and got him injured,” Akhtar says a touch angrily, in an oblique reference to the management.
Will he help spot raw talent and hone it?
“I will definitely see. There are a few youngsters and I will see if I can help groom them,” says the former speedster.
Ask what went wrong in the recent World T20 for Pakistan and Akhtar betrays a certain frustration.
“Lot of things went wrong. The smart way of playing cricket is missing in Pakistan. I think Pakistan needs a person who can lead the team in the right direction. And I can’t see anyone who can do this to be honest with you,” Akhtar says as if having reached a conclusion.
He isn’t committal when asked about any offer to coach the national team.
“I am not sure about the national team right now but whatever I say on TV, I make sure that it applies to the youngsters and helps Pakistan out at the first class level. To the national side, I can give consultancy rather than (take up) a proper job. If the time comes, I will decide then, but right now, I am busy with my media work and enjoying it. I am doing commentary on Star Sport, with AajTak, Geo TV (both private TV channels in Pakistan), Earth Factor, BBC Radio and others,” he says.
It has been three years since he retired and more than fifteen perhaps, since he became an eligible bachelor. Questions about settling down are dodged with an impish smile.
“No, I have not decided yet. When the time comes, I will.” Asked if he is looking for any particular qualities in a prospective match, he chuckles. “It depends on what keeps your boat afloat. I have not decided yet. Whoever comes along…is simple, straightforward…that would be it, I do not have a criteria,” Akhtar says before hastening to add, “Because I am myself not a perfect guy.”
For someone, who led a life in the fast lane, it was perhaps, a given he would be offered some sort of role in movies at some stage. So what is his take?
“I do watch movies but I wouldn’t like to be in them. I was offered a couple of scripts yes, but I just said no. Am pretty happy with the kind of work that I am doing and I now live a pressure-free life.”
He dismisses a change-of-heart in the future.
So does he watch Bollywood and if so, who is his favourite actor?
“I hardly watch Bollywood movies, but I like Amir Khan’s movies, I liked 3 Idiots. But I am more of an avid French art movies fan — like the ones from the early 50s. They have very powerful stories to tell. Their scripts were very strong. And have good pace,” he says by way of explanation.
Fittingly, “pace” is the last word he uses before he takes leave for the airport.
