During his early career, when Shoaib Akhtar wasn’t playing, he was surrounded by controversies and now that he is playing on and off, he is still surrounded by them and so much that he named a book after that!
Shoaib Akhtar – Controversially Yours Indeed
His recent autobiography is titled “Controversially Yours” and is stirring up all the controversies that he may have hoped for. He has targeted several players that he came across or played with/against during his career. This should turn out to everyone’s benefit however the autobiography has more criticism and gloat than praise and appreciation.
Every child who has held the cricket bat for the first time wishes that he would be called the ‘Sachin’ of India someday. Each adult, each elderly look up proud and happy that their love for the sport is more because of the Master Blaster. He has won awards, and accolades and broken records and set standards however very little of his accomplishments have been printed in Shoaib’s book.
He ever-so-dominantly writes “”I bowled (Sachin) a particularly fast ball which he, to my amazement didn’t even touch. He walked away! That was the first time I saw him walk away from me-that, too, on the slow track at Faisalabad.” He makes the statement that Sachin Tendulkar was “’scared” of Shoaib several times in his autobiography.
He tried to cover up later and clarify that Sachin was under a lot of stress in that match in Faisalabad and that may have been the reason that he did not perform his best. When Shoaib realized that he had said too much, in too much haste, he also added later on that he [Sachin] was hitting several sixes in Shoaib’s deliveries later on.
Shoaib also writes “I think players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid weren’t exactly match winners to start with, nor did they know the art of finishing the game.”
His statements followed the ones where he admitted to ball tampering and not just once but number of times. He defended himself saying that all of the players do it and that it becomes really hard to ball on dead pitches and according to him, it should be allowed.
Self-praise doesn’t necessarily have to be followed by criticism and cynicism. Shoaib could have very well have promoted his talent, his speed and his nickname “Rawalpindi Express” without derailing the deity of Indian and World cricket, Tendulkar.
People may or may not have went to the book signing if the autobiography was simple and grounded however with such over the top statements, his book’s sure to sell!
Tags: Book, Controversially Yours, Cricket, Master Blaster, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Shoaib Akhtar, World Cricket
