In a season of doom and gloom for International cricket Captains, the clouds are the darkest over Wasim Akram. Allegations of game throwing have resurfaced and Wasim finds himself in the eye of a familiar storm.
It is nine in the evening when I call Wasim Akram at his Lahore home. "I just got back from Karachi to spend a few hours with my family before I leave for Sharjah," he says breathlessly.
When he leaves, it will be without his usual openers.
Aamir Sohail, who is being mentioned an awful lot these days, is out indefinitely, while Saeed Anwar has resumed his battle with his "mystery illness".
Here, Wasim discusses some of his other problems.
Q:| How is the preparation for the (Sharjah) tournament coming along?
A:| Preparation is coming along well. It has been raining here for the last couple of days
and we have not been able to practice. But we are training individually. Mentally we are all
very tough. The boys are relaxed; they've had a month off and we are all looking forward
to some cricket.
Q:| Are you happy with the composition of the team?
A:| We've had a couple of problems but overall everything is fine. Saeed Anwar,
unfortunately, is not playing. He's ill so we have picked Inzamam-ul-Haq again.
Q:| "Again"--are you uneasy about Inzamam in any way?
A:| No, Inzamam is a key player.
Q:| Still on the heavy side?
A:| Very much. But a good batsman. Coming back to the team, I am very pleased with
the balance. It is more or less the same team that toured Australia.
Q:| What about the opening slots? Pakistan seems to be having as many problems as India
putting together two guys who could see off the new ball.
A:| I don't think we are in quite the situation India is in. But, yeah, we have had some
problems there. Now we have two experienced players: Ramiz Raja has come back and he
has played around 150 one-day internationals. Then we have a guy called Sajid Khan; he's
32, but he's done exceptionally well in domestic cricket this season. So there is definitely
some experience in the opening line-up.
Q:| Some would say Ramiz's selection is an experiment in futility. He has a suitcase full of
hundreds but he is not consistent. On such a short tour isn't it a gamble taking along a guy
who is a famous slow starter?
A:| No, Ramiz has done well in the domestic season to deserve a chance. He has the
capability to come up with a big knock and a big knock from an opener is always valuable.
Q:| Are you happy with your personal form?
A:| I haven't played cricket regularly over the last couple of seasons. After Australia I
played in the Wills Cup. From what I have seen of myself in the nets, I am quite satisfied!
Hopefully the team and I will do well.
Q:| Do you feel your striking ability has waned somewhat?
A:| I am not young and I don't quite have the same energy. But I have learnt to use my
age to my advantage. I cut down on my run-up at times. I bowl in short bursts. I swing it
more now than before. I picked up new skills. Sheer speed doesn't always get you wickets.
Q:| You are planning, I believe, to skip the tour to India later in the year and play, instead,
for your county. Speaking for myself, I am quite surprised by your decision because this
seems like such a wonderful opportunity to go up against an old enemy.
A:| Actually, it is not in my hands. I would love to go to play in India. It is up to
Lancashire to release me. The Board (PCB) has asked them to consider releasing me and
we are awaiting their reply. But, yes, I would love to play in India.
Q:| So if the schedule was okay with you, you would have played?
A:| Yeah, definitely. We would love to go to play in India. I believe we have a very
strong team right now and we should go to India.
Q:| It is quite sad that tours to India have not been on as often as fans on both sides of the
border would have liked. But you had a chance to play in the quarter-finals of the World
Cup and you had an injury that prevented you from playing. Can you talk to us about this
injury?
A:| What can I say? It was the biggest disappointment of my career. Now I am at my
peak and would like to go and play against India in India and say, "Hello! We are still
good enough team."
Q:| How different would that day (quarter-final) have turned out had you been in charge?
A:| Difficult to say. I genuinely think India played well. Mentally, they were tough on
that day. But we beat them four times after that in six games and we are still the better
team.
Q:| Was that a "real" injury in the World Cup Quarter-Final? I am not convinced.
A:| That injury has healed a long time ago. Unfortunately the wounds in people's hearts
have not...
Q:| I am not wounded by that defeat, Wasim. All I want is a straight answer from a
champion player. An India-Pakistan game, for many people, is a religious release. I shudder
to think that there is something sinister behind these results.
That is toying with emotions. Tomorrow, if it were to come out that every India Pakistan game in the
last few years, especially in Sharjah was fixed, you can imagine the upheaval.
A:| I am well aware of that. But people just love controversy, love to read something
into nothing. I think it is flattering that they found it hard to believe that we lost to India.
They accused me of taking bribes. A game later, they were accusing Mohammed
Azharuddin of doing the same when India lost to Sri Lanka. I can't stop people from
getting over-involved in a sport. That is their business. It is also their business if they get it
into their heads that players contrived to throw a game.
Q:| Here is the biggie. I know we talked about keeping controversy at an arm's length.
But I would appreciate your answering this: There has been quite some controversy
created by one of your openers, Aamir Sohail. He has come up with all sorts of
accusations, put you on the spot in a sense. Drugs, gambling, you name it, he has accused
you of it. What do you have to say?
A:| Over the last one year, out of six tournaments, we have won five and qualified for
the finals in the sixth. So my point is we have been winning almost every tournament for
the last one or two years. So if he is saying things....I am at a loss. I don't know why.
Q:| After all that has been said and done, do you think you could go back to accepting
Mr. Sohail into the team--if he tries to get back.
A:| Yes, provided he can make it back. I think to get back now he must perform
exceptionally well. First of all, he must learn to weigh his bat properly*. And if he can
make it back, I would accept him. I don't own the team. It is the Pakistan Cricket team.
And if the selectors select him, I would definitely take him back.
(Author's note: *No inquisitive mail, please. I have no idea what this means.)
Q:| I am very impressed by the way in which you and a couple of senior players have
handled themselves despite the controversies that have come up, the revolt that was
undertaken by Mr. Younis and others, for instance. But despite these things you gel so
well as a team. What is the secret behind that?
A:| I think we were too young at that time to think rationally. We made some bad
decisions. I admit I was rude at times to them and in turn they wouldn't listen to me at
times. But in the end we realized we are playing for Pakistan; we are not doing any favors
to anyone. We have matured. The senior guys understand they have probably three or four
years left to play and that they should aim to get as many laurels for the country. Now
everybody is working hard for a common goal--that is a good sign.
Q:| What is the nature of your relationship with Waqar Younis now?
A:| Fine. We are back to normal. We are good friends. We meet off the field. Things are
okay now.
Q:| Apparently you guys golf together.
A:| We do. We enjoy it.
Q:| What's your handicap?
A:| Don't want to say. I am just glad it is not my bowling average.
Q:| Is Waqar a better golfer?
A:| You must ask him. No, wait, he'll lie. I am a shade better.
Q:| You need not answer this if you don't want to: The tour of the West Indies ('92) and
the marijuana smoking charges...
A:| We are drifting into controversy again, Nadeem.
Q:| Well, if you have nothing to hide...
A:| I don't. But like you said...I don't want to talk about it. Let's not live in the past.
Q:| Sounds like you are hiding something.
A:| No. They just made it (charges) up.
Q:| The West Indian authorities? Why?
A:| To disturb us. I know the West Indians are quite friendly but that incident was rare.
Hopefully, it would never occur again.
Q:| Imran Khan, your idol and mentor, has gotten into politics in a big way. Do you see
yourself as picking up on that profession?
A:| No, I don't think so. I wish Imran luck. He is making a great effort. But I am not the
sort of person who would get into politics. I don't have the strength nor the need to get
into politics. I want to enjoy life.
Q:| Do you plan to push the kids into cricket?
A:| Yes, we have plans. We are trying.
Q:| How many kids do you have?
A:| (Thinks for a while) None--right now.
Q:| Does Imran Khan, in any way, influence team selection?
A:| He can't. He's been out of the team for the last couple of years. He is not involved
with cricket anymore. He is a politician now.
Q:| Does he ask you to join any of his rallies?
A:| I wouldn't. Politics is just not my game.
Q:| How do you get along with Majid Khan?
A:| Quite well. He's a nice guy. Straightforward. Very Straightforward and he is doing
fine.
Q:| He, too, has taken flak from past players.
A:| Majid's problem is he is too straight. He is too polite and nice. In this day and age,
people tend to go against you if you are straightforward.
Q:| How much input do you have in team selection and were you behind the dropping of
Aaquib Javed?
A:| Aaquib Javed? No. We have a very sensible selection committee nowadays. The
team is picked unanimously. I can't pick the entire team by myself. Mohammed Zahid is
probably the fastest bowler in the world and he is doing quite well. We have a couple of
others in reserve. But if any of these guys don't perform well, Aaquib is definitely a
consideration.
Q:| One last question, Wasim. You have been very generous with your time. But I will put
you on the spot again. You have absolutely no idea about these gambling and betting
allegations....
A:| No ideas at all. If he (Aamir) has any evidence....No, I am not bothered.
The team is not bothered. We are just focused on the coming tournaments.
Q:| Mr. Sohail mentioned a couple of bookies, especially Mr. Zafar Ali Jojo.... What
do you make of that?
A:| No idea.
Description: Controversial Pakistan cricket Captain Wasim Akram on Aamir Sohail, the marijuana smoking charges, allegations of betting, Zafar Ali Jojo, and the upcoming Sharjah Tournament.
