Simi Garewal interviews Wasim & Huma Akram
asi...@my-dejanews.com
Wasim Akram and his wife Huma were interviewed by Simi Garewal in "Rendezvous
with Simi Garewal" on Star Plus yesterday. This was the first time I saw her
programme in its entireity. I can't stand her, but the questions she asked
were fairly decent and the responses from Messers Akram were quite
forthcoming. Off the top of my head, some q's& a's - may not be verbatim &
complete; (background - Huma Akram is a professional psychotherapist) The
interview was in Hinglish.
Q. What was it like growing up in Lahore and playing cricket? A. Well, like
everyone else, we used to play on the streets..and if a vehicle drove past,
we would all move towards one side and wait for it to go and continue with
the game. It was tennis ball cricket and we learned to bowl fast.
Q. Playing for your country.. A. It was a great experience, I was playing in
an ODI against Lanka.and getting trashed all over the place. Imran Bhai came
up to me and said "bowl some yorkers". I said "Zindagi mein kabhi yorker bowl
nahin kiya, ab match mein karun?" (I've never bowled yorkers in my life, you
want me to bowl one in a match?" **grins** but I learnt quickly.
Q. Is every match with India a war?
A. Yes
Q. Yes?
A. It is. It is quite different from playing against other nations. That's how
we psyche ourselves up. We tell each other that if we win against India, we
will become heroes back home and if we lose, we'll be in trouble. There is a
fear of losing, certainly. We all talk about it. Off the field, we're good
friends with the Indian team. On the field we're different
Q. I've seen you swearing and gesturing towards the batsman. Are you very
aggressive at home?
Huma :No, he's very different off the field. I never watch cricket games. I
don't follow it. I had to actually see a match to see the other persona of
Wasim.
Wasim : They all do. Everyone curses. Of course, you don't do it during an
over lest the match referee fines you - they're quite strict. You do it at the
end of the over when you're walking to your place in the field. You're pretty
verbal. That's how bowlers psyche themselves up. Body language is everything.
You can make out from a players body language whether he's a positive man. You
expand your chest, hold your head high and look aggressive. Don't just walk
back to your bowling run up.
Q. So what do you say to the batsman? :-) A. Well, I can't say the exact
words on tv :-)) But basically, stuff like "why didn't you leave your bat
back in the pavilion? You're not putting it to use here!" and much meaner
stuff than that! Especially if its a batsman like Sachin or Lara you psyche
yourself up by being verbal at them. Jo samajdhar hote hain woh chhup baitthe
hain (the smart batsmen keep quiet), the youngsters get angry and throw their
wickets away. It works quite a few times.
Q. Speaking of Sachin, he made his debut in Karachi, all of 16 years old and
you greeted him with four bouncers. Sachin said that he thought he would
never play test cricket again. A. Yes, I was 22 years old, very aggro and it
was a fast track. It's a tough game. You don't show mercy if the batsman is
14 or 16. It has come good, he's a fine batsman now.
Q. Have you ever been afraid of bowling to someone? A. Never. Touchwood.
Somehow, its always been a challenge to bowl to the greats like Lara, Sachin,
M. Waugh and Anwar. They bring out the best in you.
Q. Huma, you use hypnosis to pscyhe Akram up? A. No, he never agrees! But
remember, I am a psychotherapist. Hypnosis is just one of the methods I use.
Some of them have found it very useful. Saqlain and that other guy..."kya
naam that uska?"(whatsisname) Wasim: Shoaib? Huma: Nahin , the other guy,
with the moustache.. Wasim : Arshad Huma: Yes, Arshad...he's found it useful.
I can look at the field and tell you who is going to do well..who has a
positive body language. Look at Sachin, his body tells you that he has
fantastic concentration and determination. Wasim: It is so important as
captain to maintain a positive body language. Your team senses that
immediately, so does the opposition. But yes, I'd never agree for hypnosis
with Huma - don't want her to find out my secrets :-)) Huma; Hypnosis is not
something you people think it is..you are fully conscious and aware. Unless
you know what's happening you cannot put that to use in the field. Wasim:
During the Bangalore game recently..I told my boys that this was where we got
hammered during WC96 by the Indian team and faced flak from the B'lore crowd
and we had to win the match. Of course, I said it in very rough Urdu ;-)))
Later, Shoaib came to me in the morning of the game and told me that his
heart was beating very fast. It's good to see the youngsters pepped up!
Q. So how did you feel being dropped, being in and out of the team during a
period? A. You know our culture, we are very political. Zahir hain
(obviously), politics also creeps into this game. I was very naive. The
entire team walked out on me.I was tremendously depressed. I wanted to quit
the game. My wife and family told me to stick around. Now I am quite able in
terms of politics. I have learnt my lessons as far as politics is concerned.
Huma: It was a terrible time. Even after the WC loss at Bangalore, when some
folks blamed him and our house was stoned, he had no opportunity to speak in
his defence..we never made any decisions for him. I told him what would
happen if he didn't play and what would happen if he did and it was his
choice whether to retire. Wasim: Yes, thought that if I retired, they would
win! That's what they would've wanted. The captain wanted to blame the
Bangalore loss on a player who wasn't playing! I said that I still have some
cricket left!
Q. Aiming for Kapil's record? A. My first goal is to win the world cup. That
would be great. Of course, Kapil bhai's record is on my mind but more
importantly, I will have to catch up with Courtney who will break it :-)
Q. He's got a head start on you..
A. Yes, he has. A fine bowler.
Q. Have you been scared of facing any particular bowler? A .ummm..I think
Malcolm Marshall was the most difficult bowler I've faced. Kaafi chhota kad
ke the (he was quite short) and very slippery. He used to make em skid. In my
opinion, one of the greatest of all time.
Q. And now?
A. **Grins***, no one :-)) That's because I don't care about my batting any
more. I come at #8 and just hit out..Lag gaya to lag gaya nahin to koi baat
nahin :-)) ( if I can manage to hit it good, else no probs)
Q. How much of a contribution has Huma made to your career?
A. About 70% and that's a lot. She's been there everytime when I needed her.
She's always trusted me.
Q. On the match fixing allegations.. A. I have a strong belief...that if
we're honest then Allah miya will be on your side..in India we've been doing
really well now. These guys who have come out with all these
allegations..they have no proof...just wild statements like "he changed the
batting order.." etc Of course, I'm the captain..I have every right to change
the line up..Sometimes, it may work, sometimes not! That's part of the game.
Q. You've matured a lot in your second stint as captain. You look very
different on the field now. Huma: He has ..very much. He's more calm and
decisive now. But then, his persona is very good. He's positive and always
bounces back from the worst of situations. He's also mentally very very
strong Wasim: Yes, I feel more mature now..certainly. I let my youngsters do
the aggro bit now :-))) I look at it from a distance and enjoy :-)))
Wasim, Huma : thanks for being with us on this show..it was a pleasure having
you here.
Regards
Arun Simha
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RoshanCat
Cheers,
Roshan