Controversially Yours: An Autobiography (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
In an era of Pakistani cricketing giants, Shoaib Akthar was a towering figure. From 1999 to 2005 there was no better sight than Shoaib Akthar running half the length of the filed, steaming in with his slinging action and throwing the ball like an escaped missile at some of the finest batsmen in the world and making them look like hapless victims on the way. Throughout his career, Shoaib Akthar has always been a polarising figure. But no one can deny that he didn't have talent or can question his passion and commitment to Pakistani cricket. Its hard to believe that someone with so much talent and passion for the game only ended up played 46 tests and 178 ODI's in an 18 year career. But his statistics don't tell the whole story. Controversy has always followed Shoaib Akthar both on and off the filed. Sometimes his own fault other times a victim of his own reputation. Which is why this is an important book. it gives him an opportunity to set the record straight, to tell his side of the story. The book it self isn't a literary masterpiece. Its not going to win any awards but what it does well is give a vivid and entertaining account of Shoaib's rise from a poor background to a global superstar. Although it does tends to repeat itself at times. For example how he was a misunderstood child and his lack of consulars and guidance thought out his life. Reading the book, its hard to figure out which poor soul would have been willing to guide him anyway. While shoaib gives an account of the the major controversies in his career, at times it feel like he blames everyone but himself. Even when he accepts the blame, he still tries to come out at the innocent party or a hapless victim in it all. Which definitely sounds like the shoaib we love, hate and admire..sometimes all at the same time. There are several funny anecdotes spread throughout the book. And times i couldn't help but laugh out loud. We get a glimpse into dressing room and inner working of Pakistani cricket. Shoaib also makes his feelings clear about the PCB, whom he holds responsible for ruining Pakistani cricket and players. Its hard to disagree with him on that. He also gives his option on team mates and other players such as Sachin, Gravid, Lara, Pointing etc. By now you have probably heard and read about the controversy stemmed up by the Indian media. Maybe they hadn't read the book because shoaib praised Sachin plenty of times in the book. The media definitely took some of the quotes out of context and ran with it. For reasons unknown, shoaib chose to gloss over some of the major turning points in his career. for example the 1999 world cup which made him a superstar, the 2003 world cup the 2005 tour of India and the death of Bob Woolmer etc. As i said above, the book is not going to win awards but its an enjoyable read for all cricket fans especially from Pakistan. Shoaib always wore his heart on his sleeves..what you see is what you get with him. This book is not going to change your opinion of him. If you are his fan, then you will love him even more after reading this and if you are not then its safe to assume that you wont become one after reading the book either. Regardless of what you think of him... you have to admit..the guy was true superstar and continues to divide opinions even after his retirement. Not only has the book been written by someone else but looks like quite a bit of the material is also influenced by the writer. Like Shoaib mentions that his school had no counsellor. Being a Pakistani myself, I can pretty much confirm that very very few schools in Pakistan have counsellors, so I don't know what Shoaib is trying to prove here especially when you consider his pretty low middle class upbringing? Maybe he was trying to justify his extra ordinary naughty behaviour when in school and college? A more likely explanation is that he was just acting up in an attempt to get noticed as he had desire from an early age for success, both for malarial goods, travelling and fame. Shoaib also rightly credits Rawalpindi Cricket Club for grooming him. This club has patrons within the Pakistan Army which itself is the most merit aware institution in Pakistan. Another aspect which helped Shoaib in his formative years is his positive outlook. He has acknowledged that he avoided people with negative outlooks on life and focused instead only on the positives. This single minded devotion to success probably also helped his chances in the cutthroat Pakistani cricket youth scene. Shoaib comes across as a for-ever-angry-young-man, which although is a necessary state in the beginning when you are trying to make it but has to discarded when you have made it. His book is filled with stark contradictions, no one helped him but there are quite a few named by him who have helped in with their time and money in the same book; seniors never groomed him but there seem to be many seniors like Majid, Waqar and Imran encouraging him in his own words at other places in the book; BCCP never helped him but the Chairman sent him to Australia to get his suspect bowling action certified.The thing is that coming from a low background helped him rise above the competition. It generated a desire of monster proportions inside him to succeed with his family having no other options but to allow him to keep playing. Most middle class families would diverted his energies into some other mundane 9-5 job.And most of all Shaoib's anti-Pakistani rants were very difficult to digest. He is a cricketer not a politician or an philosopher. There were sections in the book where Shoaib was trying to solve Pakistani issues like debt and joblessness. I wish he had had the sense to edit some of these vile comments from his book but then it wouldn't exactly make it controversial would it? Shoaib needs to realise that maybe when he complains over and over again how no one listens to him in Pakistan he actually means that he doesn't listen to everyone around him? How can he discredit his country of birth when all he achieved was in the same dis functional country, the same inept system and the same unimpressed cricket control board? If everyone was so apathetic then how was he ever selected for the Pakistan cricket team? All in all the book makes excellent readings, with unique inside into the world of Pakistani cricket seen from the eyes of a cricketer coming from an ordinary lower class family. I wish most other players would take the time out and write similar books about their lives as it does make very interesting insight into what-makes-Pakistan-tick. This book is politically incorrect and candid view of life as viewed by Shoaib who seems does seem to love controversy. Is this chip on the shoulder attitude prevalent in most Pakistanis?Shoaib seemed to have learnt his lesson by the end of his chequered career in the form of this most valuable advice for any budding cricketer,' it's best to relax, keep your mouth shut, not go complaining from pillor to post, and to remain alert for opportunities. There is a solution to all of one's problems but they will appear in their own time, so one must learn to sit it out and stop panicking.'Nice Shoaib Bhai, this alone merits 5 stars for your book effort at least. If not for anything else just one chapter called 'The dressing room' makes hilarious reading.
What do You think about Controversially Yours: An Autobiography (2011)?
its always good to know behind the screen facts.. good book .. never know this man so much... good..
—Xywryll
A detailed review coming up soon! Shall attach it here! :P
—TJ101
Read if you are interested in understanding this person
—Chato1234
