‘Match-fixing rumours were like trauma’: Wasim Akram remembers darkish part of his profession
Former Pakistan nice Wasim Akram has addressed allegations of fixing towards himself in his upcoming autobiography — Sultan – A Memoir.
Shedding gentle on one of many darkest chapters in his life, Akram, in a dialog with the Guardian, mentioned: “It was tough to revisit those moments in my life – the betrayal, the tragedies – but the reason for doing the book wasn’t money.”
“I most likely needed to overlook. I’ve been diabetic for 25 years and didn’t need the stress. But my sons are 25 and 21, my youthful daughter is nearly 18, and it’s my story for them. And my [second] spouse, Shaniera. They all needed to know what occurred, my facet of the story, as a result of they’ve heard stuff about me.
“People may talk about Wasim Akram, one of the best left-armers, Pakistan and Lancashire etc, and that’s how I’m generally seen by you guys in the UK. But in Pakistan, the rumours persist – ‘he’s a match-fixer’ – and that hurts a lot.”
When requested if he knew or suspected video games had been mounted, Akram mentioned: “You would hear things. I just used to ask: ‘How is this possible? I don’t believe it. Why would we do such a thing?’ Everyone was panicky and playing for themselves. It was a horrible time, no one trusted each other.”
Among the accusations, Akram allegedly tried to repair a one-day worldwide towards New Zealand in Christchurch in 1994.
Further, there have been suspicions raised about his withdrawal ( citing harm ) from the 1996 World Cup quarter-final towards India in Bangalore.
Wasim Akram admits to cocaine dependancy publish retirement
Akram admitted to drug dependancy for the primary time in his new autobiography titled – Sultan: A Memoir.
Akram, 56, mentioned that mentioned he started utilizing cocaine whereas working as a tv pundit all over the world.
“The culture of fame in south Asia is all-consuming, seductive and corrupting,” he informed the Times.
“It began innocuously sufficient once I was supplied a line at a celebration in England; my use grew steadily extra critical, to the purpose that I felt I wanted it to operate.
However, he lastly got here out of it following the demise of his first spouse.
“Huma ultimately discovered me out, discovering a packet of cocaine in my pockets . . . ‘You need help.’ I agreed.
“Huma, I do know, was typically lonely on this time, she would discuss of her want to maneuver to Karachi, to be nearer her dad and mom and siblings. I used to be reluctant.
“Why? Partly because I liked going to Karachi on my own, pretending it was work when it was actually about partying, often for days at a time.”
“Huma’s last selfless, unconscious act was curing me of my drug problem. That way of life was over, and I have never looked back.”