Autopsying one’s life when you are alive is not all that simple, and for a writer, an autobiography can provide a rare opportunity to come to terms with past, candidly analyze failures and follies, clear the air around controversies, redeem guilt, and finally exhibit secrets and skeletons in their closet without being too worried about the judgment day or making new enemies.
We’ve known Shoaib’s achievements and controversies in Cricket from the Press, but as they say, it is always interesting and personal to hear from the horse’s mouth. So, what has Shoaib got to share, to declare, to announce, to denounce, to confess, to atone, and finally to exhibit?
As readers we are constantly forced to toggle between the Shoaib’s we know and the Shoaib he shares. So who is the real Shoaib?
A slum dog millionaire
If you belong to an affluent family and live in a developed country Shoaib’s family and childhood would resemble the armpits in your country (crowded, hardworking, honest and struggling to make both ends meet). If you are from a lower middle class and live in a developing country, then his family would resemble one of your neighbors fighting for survival all the time. His father was a night watchman and poverty was the way of life, but his home was bricked with strong values, love of mother, love of uncles, care of siblings. And when you alt+tab and compare with the Shoaib today, it is a cricketer’s version of slum dog millionaire.
No short cut to Success
Life is never a bed of roses for anyone and your eyes will soften when you read his thorny experiences. His dream to become an international cricketer and bring laurels to his country wasn’t an ordinary one for someone born without a silver spoon (no money, no backing, and no sponsorship). But he had talent and the resolve to help him chase his dream. His initial days in Lahore and later in Karachi was nothing but long walks to the stadium, grueling physical training and going to bed with an empty stomach. How could one stomach all this and yet make it to the top amazes me. If only little patience came along with perseverance into the six pack mind, this man with nerves of steel could have achieved much more. But nevertheless, there was a lot of hard work behind his success and like Shoaib says “Allah’s blessings”.
A terrorist - From Classroom to dressing room
Shoaib meant trouble not only to his classmates, seniors and teachers while in school, but also to colleagues, captain, and coach both off the field and on the field. You would only be surprised only if Shoaib’s behavior in the dressing room was different. Obedience was never in his blood and very often rage and anger eclipsed his talent and earned him enemies.
When he was in college he drove the motorbike into the Principal’s room, thrashed his seniors black and blue, constantly got into trouble with his teachers, while he was on the field he tampered with the ball, verbally abused opponents, hit his colleagues with the bat and even injured them with the ball. He was not a bully, but a pit bull. This reminds you of the difference between killer instinct and intention!
Don’t be surprised if Shoaib told you he caused serious injury to a spectator (hurled a bottle at him) during the 2002 series in Zimbabwe. What do you call such a man with a volatile personality, born with defiance, superciliousness, and a short fuse? A cricketing terrorist!
Rawalpindi Express often derails!
Your speed and achievement is celebrated, you get a raging welcome at Eden Gardens, you become the nightmare to every batsman and the press calls you “Rawalpindi Express”. But what happens when arrogance, attitude and insubordination comes along with success? What happens when success gets to your head? Derailment!
Though he bowled at 100.2 mph, who would want a colleague with volatile temper, floating in air of superiority and arrogance in their team? More than his injuries, it was his temper and attitude that injured his career and eroded his savings. His short fuse kept him out of the field more often and he ended up paying more fines than any other Pakistani cricketer (70 Lakhs was the last fine he paid). McEnroe of the Cricket world!
People may sympathize with nonperformance due to injury but not non performance due to arrogance. A man with such a talent could have adorned the cricketing crown of Pakistan if only he had right attitude.
Confessions – darkness brought to light!
When you make confessions you run the risk exposing your raw bones, flesh and brain and sometimes others too. As a writer you may feel therapeutic and light, but you may also end up losing the “idol” status in the mind of the readers and disgustingly repulsive to other colleagues.
In September 2004, ICC Champions Trophy, Shoaib enjoys the moment of pride by delivering the ball to Brian Lara, but very soon he sends him to the pavilion by hitting him on his head. You admire a player and the very next moment you hit him in the head, doesn’t this sound sadistic and psychotic?
In his next confession he says his seniors like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have tampered the ball by damaging it with the zipper in their trousers, using their nails, applied substances lik Vaseline, etc and justifies doing such cheap tricks to turn the game in favour of his team and for his personal record.
Sledging, a dangerous trait that can be compared to a rattle snake, was another favourite tactic used by Shoaib to get his opponents worked up and throw their wicket as a reaction to his verbal taunt.
At the end his confessions you feel Shoaib is far being a professional cricketer and there is only more darkness to the man.
Acts of kindness and softness
It is not just fowl temper, confessions and contradictions that maketh this man; there are other facets too. The chipped marble floor in Karachi that ate his skin didn’t completely eat away his kindness and softness. After he played his first international match he kept his promise and came in search of the elderly rickshaw man who took him to the stadium for practice and the fruit vendor who gave him free feeds while he was in college. During one of his tours to Australia, he jumped in front of the car to save a toddler who ran towards him. He put his life on the line to save the child. The Australian media called him a “HERO” and elevated him to the “Superman” status off the field.
The controversies
Life is never interesting without controversies and the real hero is reborn and goes a few notches higher in hearts of fans only when he emerges unscathed from controversies. His bowling action caught the attention of opponents, umpires and kept him out of the game for a few seasons until his action was analyzed and cleared by the Australian University. The manipulated medical report that showed he had genital warts instead of skin rash put him out of the stadium for some time. From genital warts, late night parties, drug abuse, active sex life, the man has faced all kinds of controversies.
A bundle of contradictions!
If you analyzed Shoaib’s confessions, controversies and acts of kindness, he comes across as a bundle of contradiction more than a seasoned willow. It was always okay for him to tease and taunt his opponents and colleagues, but if spectators and fellow players returned the favor, softness vanished and the man turned violent to unction his bruised ego. He had maturity and patience to fight his controversies, but didn’t use it to control his emotions.
In his book, he accuses Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar and few others for playing to build personal record and not being match winners or true patriots, while he was obsessed to break his own record of 100.2 mph. Is that a trait of a patriot or a portrait of self consumed cricketer? Isn’t the pot calling the kettle black?
Hi(s)tory!
Reading someone’s autobiography (aka autopsy report) when they are alive is also not always fun and easy. For a reader, it can either make or break the image of that person they’ve been carrying in their heart and mind all this while and it becomes too easy and simple for them to judge and dislike the person without understanding their life in the backdrop of various constraints, controversies, compulsions, and compromises. But who are we to punish, praise or judge Shoaib Akthar when life gives everyone their respective dues?
His story is an inspiration to anyone who is willing to work hard without any backing or support. His story is an example of what happens when success gets to head. His successes and failures show the power of one’s emotion on their career. His raw emotions teach you how to infuriate friends and make enemies. Remember you need not live his life to learn his tricks, just read the book.
His story is an inspiration to anyone who is willing to work hard without any backing or support. His story is an example of what happens when success gets to head. His successes and failures show the power of one’s emotion on their career. His raw emotions teach you how to infuriate friends and make enemies. Remember you need not live his life to learn his tricks, just read the book.
View his You Tube Interview on CNN IBN- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j63wL9B0BrA
Download the PDF version of the book - http://www.harpercollins.co.in/AIS_File/1003_AI_Sept_201_%20Final_File_low%20resolution.pdf
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