Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar Biography

Source(Google.com.pk)

NEW DELHI: Controversial former Pakistani player Shoaib Akhtar made some sensational claims in his biography 'Controversially Yours', revealing Sachin Tendulkar being scared of him.

In another revelation the pacer has accused Shahrukh Khan and Lalit Modi of cheating him during IPL.

Speaking exclusively to TOI, the fastest bowler in the history of cricket, marked by a short, tempestuous career, explains his story, full of trauma, success - and controversy.

He retired from cricket following the 2011 World Cup. Why this book now?

"I am in peace post-retirement, giving all the attention I ever wanted to my old parents, but this book has not been a sudden thing. A whole year and a half went into it. What I've written is my experience, put as honestly for others to know.

This is the truth - for the world, it may be a big controversy. It saddens me to hear all kind of stories about Pakistani cricket in the world. People should know what we go through and why we are the way we are."

'Controversially Yours' shies away from little in Akhtar's life. It maps his journey from an economically deprived, yet happy childhood, into an adolescence driven by his quest to break into Pakistani cricket. Born flat-footed, suffering whooping cough, Akhtar describes the blood, sweat and tears that took him to breaking the 100 mph barrier, playing as Pakistan's 'Rawalpindi Express'.

Comfort stayed elusive. Akhtar describes the severe class discrimination marring Pakistani cricket, the arrogance of the Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB), his humiliation and his failures - including ball-tampering and even attacking teammates with a bat.

Alongside, he takes on Pakistani and international players, coaches, selectors, the media, Lalit Modi, Javed Miandad, Wasim Aqram - even Pervez Musharraf. "You've criticized several important figures. Didn't you feel apprehensive?

"No apprehensions. This is the truth. Why must anyone fear speaking it?"

"What kind of response are you expecting?"

"I hope Pakistan cricket will be understood and respected. I hope people will feel the other side of me and understand why I am the way I am."

Akhtar is the way he is because of the extremes he's seen - from the exhilaration of making world records to the darkness of chucking allegations, drug tests and match-fixing. His story is tense, taut and triumphant. And there's a reason he's telling it now.

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar

ShoaibAkhtar