Shoaib Akhtar

The fear of offending either the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) or the head of its appellate tribunal, Justice (retd) Aftab Farrukh, is making Shoaib Akhtar stay away from the media.

“He’s made only one request — that the media be kept away from him and vice-versa,” is what a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ team management had to say.

However, as Shoaib’s arrival has caused a stir in the city and beyond, The Telegraph is reproducing excerpts from two interviews with him.

The exclusive one-on-ones do reveal much about one of the biggest headline-makers cricket has seen in recent memory.

Of the two, interview No.1 was in Hobart in January 2000, during the tri-series, and the next in Glasgow in July 2007, on the eve of what should’ve been an Indo-Pak ODI in aid of a trust patronised by Prince Charles. Rain, though, played spoilsport.

The following are excerpts from the interview conducted on July 1, 2007:

Always making headlines

(Laughs) That’s because the media loves me… As you can see, I’ve lost some hair and my stubble is no longer all black… The controversies have affected me… I’ve had to struggle to beat the odds… I’ve felt the strain, yes.

Having helped script the controversies

I don’t want to be controversial… Things have happened but I’m not going to blame others. Believe me, every controversy has made me a better person… A stronger character…

Whether the two-year ban for testing positive, which eventually got lifted, also made him stronger

Yeah… That (October-November 2006) was the worst period… My own countrymen shunned me, with some even refusing to look at me… It was a terrible period… Everybody’s body mechanism isn’t the same and certain levels are higher in my body when compared to others… My hormone level fluctuates… I didn’t take drugs to enhance my performance… I don’t need to… I don’t know why I was treated so badly… The test, after all, didn’t show that I was an evil person… That I was bad for society… Sadly, people don’t try to understand me. I’ve always been misunderstood… I’ve never seen myself bigger than the game.

Secret behind his mental toughness

God never gives more pain than what you’re able to tolerate… Whatever the controversy, after the initial disappointment and anguish, I’ve always steeled myself and fought back… The first step is hard, after that it’s easy… As a kid, I would boast about becoming a star… I didn’t know how, but I never gave the impression of not knowing… I stuck to my belief and the doors opened.

His debonair image

It has been created by the media… Yes, I’m not married and love partying and so on, but why should that be an issue if I perform on the field? Performance counts, not one’s image. Main koi baccha nahin hoon but I accept there are things I could have done differently.

Whether he sees cricket as a 9.00am to 5.00pm job

Absolutely… Just change the timings for the day-night games! I must be judged for what I do in that period. After that, well, I should have the freedom to do what I want. I’m not immature to get into things which will affect my career.

The time when his action was deemed suspect

Yes… Even that was a terrible period and it really hurt me… The first time (1999-2000) was awful… I’m always going to be thankful to Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, the International Cricket Council (ICC) president at that point in time, for his support… But, as I’ve said, every controversy has made me a better and a stronger person… For a while, I may have felt gutted, but the controversies haven’t killed my josh and the desire to play for Pakistan.

Not having a great relationship with Inzamam-ul Haq

I’ve never had a problem with anybody… Others have had problems with me… Some have this tendency to get jealous… They get insecure… I’m not jealous about anybody or anything… Look, I’m most happy when (Mohammed) Asif does well… I’m happy when a Brett Lee or a Shane Bond turns in a fiery performance… I’ve never felt insecure… Actually, whoever the captain, he has to understand the psyche of a fast bowler.

Having had fundamental differences with Bob Woolmer

It took me a year to understand Bob… It probably took him quite a bit of time to understand me as well… It took him time to realise that match-winners are rare and they need to be looked after… We did have differences but I didn’t misbehave… However, I admit to a big argument with him in South Africa (earlier in 2007), when he suspected I was faking a hamstring injury. I exploded, for he had no business doubting my integrity and nationalism… The next day, Bob apologised as he’d been misinformed about my injury… (After a pause) His death left me stunned… What’s worse is that his body remained in Kingston for weeks and weeks… Such indignity…

On the difference a coach can make at the highest level

Very little… The newcomers need a coach, that’s it. Collectively, the team needs somebody to liaise with the board. That’s needed as there often are many changes (within the PCB).

Whether Shoaib Malik, the new captain, has his support

Of course… He doesn’t speak too much and I’m confident he’ll do well… Even the new vice-captain, Salman (Butt), has my support… Didn’t you see us go out to the City Centre? I’m not jealous that X is the captain or Y is the vice-captain… I’m ambitious, but the ambitions centre around my trade… Today, I’m working towards bowling in excess of 100mph… Obsession or not, I’m going to achieve it.

Not liking batsmen

I don’t… When I come charging in, the one thought is to **** them… I like being aggressive and don’t like batsmen who keep improving their average by batting against mediocre attacks on flat wickets… It’s a pity that there are so few genuinely quick bowlers… Batting has definitely become easy and ridiculous rules such as a free hit (in ODIs and Twenty20) after a foot-fault no ball are absurd… For God’s sake, don’t discourage fast bowlers. Nowadays, the big totals are thanks to a decline in the quality of bowling, not because of an improvement in batsmanship.

The newer fast bowlers in Pakistan not exactly being great

(That’s) Because they haven’t had somebody to idolise… There’s no Imran Khan or Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis… I keep getting pulled down… Keep being made a scapegoat… I’m treated like somebody on whom all the filth can be dumped... Mere upar hi sab ata hai… Unless the youngsters find somebody to idolise, be it a batsman or a bowler, cricket in Pakistan may die in five years. Some years ago, we would be mobbed at airports and traffic signals… Now, that’s not the case. Cricket isn’t a craze and, among other things, the system needs to be looked at.

Faith having become an issue within the team

Nothing must be imposed… Faith is a personal thing, it’s between an individual and Allah… We’ve got to be true Muslims, yes, but nothing should be thrust on somebody… People don’t have to be told what to do… At the end of the day, I’m wholly answerable to Allah, not somebody on earth. Really, the bottomline is that I’ve got to be honest, which I am.

Whether he’s more up for it when the Sachin Tendulkars are in the opposition

No… The opposition doesn’t matter… Sachin’s a good batsman and a humble person… At the same time, I haven’t forgotten he once called me a ‘chucker’… I had to restrain myself… (Virender) Sehwag said the same thing and, today, he’s been chucked out of the team!

Now, excerpts from the interview conducted on January 20, 2000:

Being regarded the fastest on the circuit

More than being considered the fastest, that I’ve been able to play international cricket is like a dream come true. At times, abhi bhi khwab jaisa lagta hai…

Whether touching the 100mph mark is an obsession

I wouldn’t say so… Taqdeer ki baat hai… It’s like this, more than speed, I’m concerned about my performance. At the same time, my performance depends on speed… Speed has been an attraction… I even drive fast… Swim fast too.

The physical and mental effort

Physical effort to aap sab ko dikh jaata hai… Adjusting in the mind and getting it to coordinate with the body is very important… No two wickets are exactly the same. Equally, no two grounds will be absolutely similar. Fast bowling isn’t simply a physical exercise.

Pressure being a factor

I look at it differently — that I have a responsibility… That’s not pressure. In any case, pressure tab hota hai when you keep thinking about it. Like I’ve said, I accept there’s a responsibility. That’s it.

Whether he’d expected the ICC (then headed by Dalmiya) to lift his ban

Absolutely. I never felt there’s anything wrong with my action… No umpire has called me…

Adjusting to Tests and one-dayers

Personally, I quite prefer one-day cricket… Perhaps, it has something to do with the pace… The atmosphere, a guaranteed result… Maaza aata hai.

On how he unwinds

Listening to Kishore Kumar and Kumar Sanu songs… They help me relax… Lots of sleep as well… I’m also quite fond of Hindi movies, especially the ones starring Aishwarya Rai… (Added laughing) Could you convey to her that I’m a fan of hers?

Finally, having emerged as cricket’s latest pin-up hero

I’m certainly not a playboy… Aap kya bol rahen hain? I’m a simple person… Neither a playboy nor controversial.