Controversially Yours...

Shoaib Akhtar after a controversial cricket career decided to continue the controversy post retirement with his controversial autobiography “Controversially Yours”. Phew… What a controversy!!!

For starters, I’m definitely a fan of Shoaib Aktar for his cricketing skills. The World Cricket was suffering genuine fast bowlers after the likes of Andy Roberts, Malcom Marshall, Michael Holding, Dennis Lille, Richard Hadlee, Jeff Thomson quit the scene. Others as Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose were either on twilight of their career or already changed their status quo to Fast Medium bowlers. That left Allan Donald ruling the roaster, rather kept the art surviving. It was at this stage Shoaib Akhtar arrive the arena and swept everyone’s heart with tear away fast bowling. He bowled serious pace that genuinely troubled lots of batsmen including the legendary Tendulkar. His impact on the generation next is beyond my deliberation. I’m still playing cricket in the United States alongside Pakistani friends and it’s still a common sight to see 1 out of 10 Pakistani fast bowler imitating Shoaib Akhtar’s action. Such a wonderful talent he is, how screwed his career all by himself is an open book to read.

Even after retirement, the Rawalpindi Express continues to throw down beamers at his contemporaries with Controversially Yours. Though he pulled everyone left, right and centre in his autobiography, I don’t really care too much until what he says about my Little Master. Trust me, I’ve not read the book myself nor I intend to read it anytime in the future.

Based on the excerpts from the release, the accusation include

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.

Tendulkar was scared of me and my scorching pace (cites an incident that happened in Faisalabad where he believed Tendulkar chickened out).

My Man… this is enough to get the adrenaline pumping and set Tendulkar fans raging.

Dear Akhtar,

Knowing Tendulkar all along, I’m pretty sure he must have declined to comment to your criticism. Being an avid fan of the legend, it is hard not to respond to your disparagement.

For heaven sake, you only bowled 8,143 balls in Test Cricket and 7,764 balls in ODI Cricket. By any means these are far fewer deliveries compared to what Tendulkar scored with bat in each format of the game. With such a low profile, I’m glad you scaled the heights to criticize the Master. Here is a simple analogy, to clarify your misconception in understanding the two words “SCARED” and TROUBLED”. As a common man we are always troubled by the challenges of life. That does not mean we are scared of life. So, Tendulkar being a professional cricketer is always going be troubled by bowlers like you. That does not mean Tendulkar is scared of you. Anyways, I pardon your proficiency with the language for I knew you did not get Bachelors in English.

Now that you questioned the match winning abilities of Tendulkar, I’m curious to verify your match winning credentials. Of the 12 five wickets haul in Test Cricket, Pakistan won 6 times and lost out on 5 occasions. I’m certainly confident Tendulkar centuries stand far higher success rate. I don't wish to elaborate this article than it is for you. 

Anyways, your scandalous career is unlikely to fetch a job in cricket home or away. Still you are left a life to lead. Having made it from Rags to Riches, you don’t want to go back. So, here comes a silly autobiography with vivid imaginations and spicy ingredients to make it a best seller. Not a bad ploy at all.

Bottom Line: A Scandalous Career picks an Illustrious Career. Funny World!!! 

Champions League 2011

All of the IPL Teams biting dust except Mumbai Indians. Looks like Kapthan Bhajji knows this game better than the others.

Dinesh

Cricket Lover