Shoaib Akhtar's Publicity Gimmick


By Denzil Fernandes
Daijiworld Media Network

Dubai, Sep 25: The express bowler from Pakistan Shoaib Akhtar who rose and fell like nine pins while playing for Pakistan is determined to raise his head even in his grave !  It seems so when you flip through the pages of a cricket book written by him under the title “Controversially Yours”.  As you run through the story, one can quickly conclude that this is a story purely written to sell not in the streets of Rawalpindi but certainly in the metros of modern India.

Everyone knows that India’s cricket crazy population is ready to pick anything that can make juicy reading.

You actually cannot blame the marketing gimmick adopted by Shoaib Akhtar to sell his book.  He has targeted some of India’s most popular cricketers and given them a licking if one may say so.  Picking up on master batsman Tendulkar,  Shoaib has claimed that he was afraid of his bowling.  Further on,  he said that Dravid was unable to finish and win any matches.  “They are not match winners” proclaimed Shoaib Akhtar in his book about Tendulkar and Dravid.

He does not stop there.  Recalling his days while playing for Kolkata Knightriders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Shoaib says that both IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi and owner Shah Rakh Khan (SRK) cheated him on his payments and tricked him into playing for the Kolkata team.  While playing in the IPL Shoaib had fondly called SRK as his ‘loving brother’.  Just when the book was being launched SRK has suddenly become a villain from hero.

The thick skinned and long haired Shoaib Akhtar was never a regular for the Pakistan side.  Often plaugued by injuries due to being unfit, the Pakistan selectors wanted him to be thrown out of the team for poor disciplinary record and fitness also.  There were times when Shoaib would break down during an important match and become a liability for the team.  In fact, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wanted him to be kept away from the national team for various reasons insisting that he was a failure for the country’s team.  Except for his blistering pace with no control whatsoever, all cricket pundits felt that he was a total waste.  Added to that was his poor behaviour on the field especially at the opposing batsmen which no one even in his team and country liked.

With retirement from active cricket, writing a controversial book was a great option indeed.  Shoaib Akhtar did not waste time and what one reads in ‘Controversially Yours’ is unbelievable  stuff simply for the sake of selling the book.  However, in the long run, the book will create more problems for Pakistan cricket one feels. 

Calling the retired fast bowler "a mad cap", Pakistan Cricket Board ( PCB) chief Ijaz Butt condemned Akhtar's plans to launch his book in India and seek "cheap publicity" by taking  a jibe at Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.  “The book will further disrupt our relations with India” he says "We are trying so hard to bridge the gap with India. In these times such bullshit is totally uncalled for," said Butt.  Butt, who called Akhtar an "attention-seeker", questioned his love for cricket and vowed to take action against the former speedster shortly.

Pakistan’s ‘king of swing’ Wasim Akram has called Shoaib a permanent problem for Pakistan cricket.  “He was a problem when he was in the team and he is a problem when he is out of the team," Akram said.  Shoaib claimed that Wasim was not in favour of him being in the team.

Shoaib targeted the Indians most as he launched his controversial book.  While agreeing that his teammates fought in the dressing room regularly he went on to add that "But thank God, we atleast fought in the dressing rooms but your Harbhajan Singh slapped someone in the open," he said in jest referring to the off-spinner's infamous slap on Sreesanth.

Sachin Tendulkar quickly said that it was below his dignity to comment on the statements made in the book.  Spinner Harbhajan Singh when told about the controversial book  laughed it off saying that Shoaib was adopting unfair means to sell his book.

Always a controversial figure in Pakistan cricket due to his ball tampering and bad temper, Shoaib Akhtar was termed as the ‘bad boy’ of  Pakistan cricket.  The PCB too disciplined and warned the bowler repeatedly and sighed a big relief once he retired. 

Now that Shoaib Akhtar has retired, he could not find a better way than writing down his memoirs in the same fashion as he behaved on the cricket field and quite appropriately naming the book as “Controversially Yours”.

How many will go through the edition and hit the bowler out of the ground is very easy to guess. 

In the end, one believes that Shoaib has done more harm than good for Indo-Pak cricket relations with “Controversially Yours”.  The “Rawalpindi Express” may soon be running for cover !

  

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Comment on this article

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    Everyone has a right to their own opinion no matter how wrong they are but we the viewers should take it with a pinch of salt. As per cricket statistics, Shoab was a right arm fast bowler who is regarded as the fastest bowler in the history of cricket. He set an official world record by achieving the fastest delivery at 161.3 km/h in his bowling speed, twice at a cricket match against England. His ability to bowl fast yorkers and quick bouncers has made him one of the best fast bowlers in cricket.
    However, he was accused of not being a team player & sent home during the Test match series in Australia in 2005 for alleged poor attitude. A year later, he was embroiled in a drug scandal after testing positive to a banned substance. However, the ban imposed on him was lifted on court appeal.
    In September 2007, he was banned for an indefinite period for his fight with Pakistan team mate and fast bowler Mohammad Asif & later banned for 5 years for publicly criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board. All this reflects that he is frank & has a right to his own opinion about his own team as well as the Pakistan Cricket Board for that he was badly in trouble. Moreover, in October 2008, the Lahore High Court in Pakistan suspended the five year ban and he was ed in the 15-man squad for the Twenty20 Quadrangular Tournament in Canada. A non-Muslim Pakistani judge, Rana Bhagwandas stated once that, he is a legend of Pakistan cricket.
    And I am neither a fan of Shoab nor Pakistan Team.

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  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    If the word RSS was offending, I take it back. Mr. Bhat had no right to twist my view into communal colour. For his kind information even our forefathers were here in India since 7th Century and not here on a work visa. I don't want to elaborate more on ancient Indian history.

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  • Harsh Malhotra, Mangalore/New Delhi

    Mon, Sep 26 2011

    Bulsam/Moshu..yuga yuga galu kaledaru
    navu sudharu dilla.. it's in our blood..

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  • ANWAR, Dubai/Balehonnur

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Mr. Bhatt Tell me are you a citizen of that country where you are working, if it is yes then all your question are fare but we Muslims of India are citizen of the country but people like you always never supported us in any manner just trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. Of course you are working for an American company but not in America

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  • a r ahmad, dubai

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    truth is truth

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  • Hunain, Pakistan

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    i believe that this article is very biased and fails to identify the facts.

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  • yousuf, ksa

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Its all about for the best seller. No controversy , no publicity. That's only the core Mantra usually adopted by almost all the celebrities. . Mr.Bhat pls do not create religious chaos. Everyone has the right to express their views.

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  • srini, mumbai

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Shoaib is one of the many bowlers who used to Chuck. But he has the nerve to falsely comment on other gentlemen cricketers. The book should be renamed SENSATIONALLY CONTROVERSIAL!

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  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Mr. Rajan & Mr. Samson, I don’t have that great knowledge about cricket but as per record he is a right arm fast bowler who is regarded as the fastest bowler in the history of cricket. He set an official world record by achieving the fastest delivery at 161.3 km/h in his bowling speed, twice at a cricket match against England. His ability to bowl fast yorkers and quick bouncers has made him one of the best fast bowlers in cricket.
    However, he was accused of not being a team player & sent home during the Test match series in Australia in 2005 for alleged poor attitude. A year later, he was embroiled in a drug scandal after testing positive to a banned substance. However, the ban imposed on him was lifted on court appeal.
    In September 2007, he was banned for an indefinite period for his fight with Pakistan team mate and fast bowler Mohammad Asif & later banned for 5 years for publicly criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board. All this reflects that he is frank in his criticism of his own team and the cricket board for that he was always in trouble. Mind you, I am neither a fan of him nor of the Pakistani Cricket.
    Moreover, in October 2008, the Lahore High Court in Pakistan suspended the five year ban and he was added in the 15-man squad for the Twenty20 Quadrangular Tournament in Canada. Pakistani judge, Rana Bhagwandas, a Hindu, stated once that, he is a legend of Pakistan cricket.
    Whether you like it or not, this is what his record says.

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  • M.Bhat, Dubai

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Mr. Moshu, I am working here in dubai for US company.
    I am strictly following Governments Rules and regulations here.
    Local law says we should not eat anything on outside during ramadan, we are following that.
    We are not asking(forcing) local gOvt to bring any Hindu law here.
    Law permitted here to have one temple here, but told that it should not look like temple from out side ( Just looks like an apartment). we said it is Ok for us.
    Other religion practices are restricted only within the walls and not allowed to loud speakers, it is ok with us & we are following that.

    If you still have the problem with me staying here, I will not stay even one extra day here & I will pack to India , if you take all your same minded people to KSA or Pakistan

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  • behman, dubai

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    alway, religion is first, then nation

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  • Salman, Pakistan

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    I am a Pakistani. I sincerely apologize to all the fans of cricket especially Indian fans. Sachin has won 76 man of the match awards & shoaib has played only a few more than 76 ODIs in his career. Sachin has won more matches only with his spin bowling than Shoaib with his speed. Its disgrace to the game of cricket & I sincerely apologize.

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  • Pravin, Kaup / Jubail

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Its strange and interesting when a drug adict like Shoaib Akhtar writes Biography.. Funny! Crazy, that number of times he was banned for using unzuthorised drugs. He was supported by people like Mr.Bulsam & moshu.

    The record speaks for itself. Sachin Tendulkar has scored 48 century in one day matches and India has 33 wins, 1 tie, 13 defeats and 1 no result. In test matches, Tendulkar has 51 test centuries (in either innings) and 20 times India recorded victory while 20 other times match ended up as draw, leaving us with 11 defeats.


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  • moshu, ksa

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    If a muslim support pakistani people like Mr.Bhat gives communal color and at the same time when a hindu support a pakistani he still remain patriotic.
    MrBhat what you doing in Dubai after all?

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  • Samson, Abu Dhabi

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    A man who can throw a ball with out any clue as to where and how it is going has no brains. He had a duty to it to the world atleast when he was leaving the field. Now he has proved that he is a fast bowler without brains. A pathetic man who tried his hands at cricket

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  • Rajan, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Bulsam
    You know nothing about cricket. But Rasheed knows better. Shoib has opportunity at least visit India now no more

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  • Jaimini P.B., Manipal,Sharjah

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    I am not happy with comments from Mr.Bhat & Mr.Bulsam. Both were doing personal attack to some extent.Mr.Bhat..question of Pakistani doesn't come here,just becasue Mr.Bulsam supports Akthar and Mr.Bulsam..name of RSS should not have been mentioned in cricket column. I am a big fan of Pak cricketer Wasim Akram.I like his bowling,commentary and sports articles.He is better than Ravi Shastri or Manjrekar. Akram told in an interview that Shoib Akthar was a problem when he was playing and he continued that even after retirement. I think Akthar forgot that Sachin has been playing for more than 20 years,and he faced ferocious fast bowlers like Hadlee,Donald,Ambrose,Walsh,Pollok,Waqar,Akram..etc.etc.At the same time Shoib Akthar has very little knwoledge about Rahul Dravid who played maginificent roles in India's famous win in test matches in overseas(England,Australia,West Indies).Anyway..this is Akthar's book selling gimmick like Gilchrist,Ricky Ponting.

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  • raj shetty , mangalore

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Bulsam, Mangalore..du u think his words are really true..or his words are true just because of his religion!!! ..confusing..

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  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Some RSS fanatic will not like my straight statement but I can't help it. One should acknowledge that such people’s view reflects their personality.

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  • M.Bhat, Dubai

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Now we can see here one more Pakistani supporter commenting. for them the Religion is first, & donot care about the nation.(**We should learn to accept criticism and you may take it with a grain of salt**).

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  • john, mangalore

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    it may be shoib or sharukh or ajmal or afzal...all are equal..prise india whenver they need help,prise usa whnever they need money ..other wise they all strict relegiious follower...

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  • rasheed, dubai

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    no doubt, dravid is not a match winner. he is a match handler. if match is in india favour, he has ablility to stay till last to win, but if run rate to chase is high, then it is not his job. in last era, he has change, and mould himself for 20-20 format.

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  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Sun, Sep 25 2011

    Truth is bitter but he was frank. We should learn to accept criticism and you may take it with a grain of salt.

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