Gautam Gambhir negative, has no personality: Shahid Afridi writes in autobiography

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Seems his book just like Akhtar is more about him being the bigger man and bashing others he is critical of Amir Sohail, Miadad and Malik. 

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‘Everybody Tampers With the Ball’

Afridi writes about a particular bad series in Australia where during his first stint as captain, Pakistan were finding it difficult to win. So, out of desperation, Afridi admits tampering with the ball.

“I was desperate for a win because it was my first stint as captain. Plus, we were in Perth – the wicket there is never helpful to visiting sides from the subcontinent – which didn’t help in times of desperation. Pakistan was in a strong position to win but needed just a little bit of extra help with the ball. So, in front of cameras, with millions watching, I did what’s probably been done before but never captured on live television. I bit into the ball. Big, juicy bites, to dent it and make it work for us.”

Here is the thing, Afridi says, everybody tampers with the ball.

“I just showed the world how I do it without really trying to conceal it. It’s that simple. I wanted to win. I like to win. And I’m sorry, very sorry, that I did it. I was emotional and hungry for a win and yes, that’s why I ate the ball – or tried to.”

‘I Was Ready to Falsely Testify to Save a Teammate’

Before getting an international call-up, Afridi was in the West Indies travelling with Pakistan’s ‘A’ U-19 team when his fellow teammate Zeeshan Pervaiz was accused of raping a woman.

Afridi writes: “According to Zeeshan, a woman, much older than him, had tried to entrap him. Though frankly, I felt both were at fault. There’s no real way of explaining this and defending him, except by saying that he was young, inexperienced – both in terms of travelling and women – and it was his first international tour.”

Afridi says Zeeshan and he had a bit of a history. A couple of days before the scandal became known, the two had an argument and a subsequent falling-out. “I felt terrible that a fellow teammate I had had a war of words with over some stupid locker-room row was now in deep trouble… So, there I was, ready to falsely testify to save a teammate… It’s what young men have always done for other young men in battle and in trouble, even if it doesn’t sound right or make any sense.”

"Eventually, thank God, there was no need for my testimony. It all worked out for Zeeshan - the court in Kingston acquitted him for lack of evidence. Though I'm not morally comfortable about it today, I was very proud then to have offered to help out a teammate in trouble. My motives were, without a doubt, well intentioned, even though the act - never committed by me - was allegedly, a dishonourable one. Thank God for the West Indies judiciary."

‘Lost All My Respect for Miandad’

For Afridi, the Pakistani great Miandad was different from the hero many youngsters had grown up to cherish in the 1980s. He says the conflict between the two was personal in nature. As a coach, Miandad hated his batting style, method, and technique, he says.

During Pakistan’s Test tour of India in 1999, Afridi writes that Miandad wanted to drop him from the team and only on the insistence of Wasim Akram and endorsement by the chief selector, did he make the cut.

“The stage was set for a disaster. Javed bhai was relentless. And that’s how the day before the Chennai match, he did something I consider highly unethical and unprofessional by not letting me bat at the nets. Bear in mind that I was the opener.”

Shahid Afridi in Game Changer

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Afridi played the game and scored a century, and Pakistan ended up winning the match by 12 runs. “But Javed bhai’s attitude towards me touched a new low. Before the post-match presentation ceremony, he pulled me aside and said, ‘Listen, buddy, you’d better make sure you thank me in the presentation and interview. Tell them how I’ve groomed you and made you a good batsman. Understood?’.

“That day I lost all my respect for Javed Miandad, supposedly one of the greats of the game but in reality, a small man.”

‘Feminists Would Have Chewed Us Both'

Afridi has spoken in great detail about his admiration for soldiers and the institution of the Pakistan army. Recalling an interaction with former military dictator General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf, who Afridi refers to as ‘great soldier’, in Lahore in the year 2000, he writes: “Three days earlier, I had got married before a big match versus England. I did remarkably well with a five-for and a half-century. General sahib was in attendance, of course.

“After the match, he came up to me and congratulated me for a job well done. Now, knowing him, he couldn’t just congratulate me and decided to slip in a comment. He said something along the lines of, ‘Afridi, your performance has improved after marriage’. At which point, I couldn’t hold back and said, ‘Well, sir, in that case, I think I’m gonna go for a second marriage to doubly improve my performance’. We had a grand laugh and then he said that a second marriage wouldn’t be bad idea if I could score a century and get 10 wickets. Thank God, the media was not around, or the feminists would have chewed us both up for that banter.”

 

‘They Play God, These Media-Walas’

Afridi’s bluntness is visible in the writing of his autobiography. It reflects a no-holds-barred approach, just like his batting used to be during his playing days on the international circuit.

He reveals being addicted to the news. But complains that news channels have become more like movie channels. There is a lot of overacting and there is a lot of lying, he says.

“You can see the script unfold, live on prime-time television. Even though the press is crucial for the country, journalists forget that they need to be a source of inspiration, not desperation. Seemingly, most anchors and reporters are not educated and that clearly shows. They are barely ethical, too, and that shows as well. I understand the concept of breaking news. But not the concept of breaking the country or the sport or hearts. They play God, these media-walas. This insanity has to stop.”

Uncovering the Spot-Fixing Saga

On the disgraceful spot-fixing scandal in 2010, Afridi writes he got hold of the original evidence in the corruption racket: phone messages that would eventually come into play against the players involved in the controversy. But when he took the evidence to the team management, he says, what happened next didn't inspire much confidence in those tasked with managing and running the affairs of Pakistan's national cricket team.

Afridi says Mazhar Majeed, the fixer who looped in the cricketers, took his mobile phone to a repair shop in London and that's where the news broke out.

"In a random coincidence, the shop owner turned out to be a friend of a friend of mine (this may sound like too much of a coincidence but the Pakistani community in England is quite closely connected). While fixing the phone, the shop-owner, who was asked to retrieve the messages, came across Majeed's messages to the players of the Pakistan team. Though he shouldn't have seen what he did, it was that leak from him to my friend and a few others (whom I won't name) that looped me in on the scam. Soon, word got around that something strange was happening with the cricket team. It was that leak which probably tipped off the reporting team from News of the World as well."

Afridi says he showed those to coach Waqar Younis who didn't escalate the matter. During Pakistan's tour to England in the summer of 2010 when he saw Majeed and his cohorts lurking around and hanging out with the soon-to-be-accused players, he sounded the alarm and took up the issue officially with the team manager Yawar Saeed.

"I put in a formal request that Mazhar Majeed should be distanced from the players, physically, and that no one in the team should associate with him even on a personal level ... When Saeed didn't take action, I showed him the text messages - I'd printed them out on paper. After going through them, Saeed, taken aback, eventually came up with a dismal response: 'What can we do about this, son? Not much. Not much.'"

India 2.0

Afridi admits, without sugarcoating, that things between India and Pakistan have gone from ‘bad to worse’. He writes current state of affairs between the two countries are ugly and hurt both nations.

“First, policy: we have always welcomed India, in all matters related to the game. The love and welcome they’ve received on their previous tours of Pakistan – at least the ones I played in – have been on such a scale that I don’t think Indian players will ever forget it.”

But the former Pakistan all-rounder regrets that India has not reciprocated Pakistan’s overtures.

“Unfortunately – and I’m not talking about politics, diplomacy or proxy wars here … There were days when Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena alone would threaten our team when we toured. Now, with Narendra Modi government in power at the centre, the hateful era of Thackeray and the Shiv Sena pales in comparison with the BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party) government’s broader Hindutva policies towards Pakistan and Pakistan cricket.”

https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/shahid-afridi-autobiography-game-changer-controversial-statements

 

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Pakistan former captain Shahid Afridi known for his gung-ho attitude on and off the field delved into the history he shared with former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis, calling the bowling legend a ‘mediocre captain’ and ‘a terrible coach.’ 

“Unfortunately, he hadn’t let go of the past,” writes Afridi about the former fast bowler in his newly released autobiography ‘Game Changer.’

“Waqar and I had a history, dating all the way back to his tiff with Wasim [Akram] over the captaincy crown. He was a mediocre captain but a terrible coach, always micromanaging and getting in the way, trying to tell the captain – me – what to do… It was a natural clash and it was bound to happen,” wrote Afridi.

Talking about his much celebrated international cricket debut, Afridi revealed that he was actually nineteen years old rather than the stated sixteen. “I was just nineteen, and no

"We shouldn't have lost that semi-final against India (at Mohali)" : Shahid Afridi

"Let's be honest. We lost that game more than India won it. India's cricket god, Sachin Tendulkar, was the luckiest man in the world that day. We dropped him on 27, 45, 70 and 81. He would finally be dismissed on 85. It's almost as if his dismissal was destined to be in my hands. Or maybe not. First, he lobbed me to Misbah at mid-wicket. Dropped. Then, he plunked me to Younis at cover. Dropped. Then, Kamran Akmal pulled a Kamran Akmal, not getting anywhere near a thick edge I forced. It wasn't over: Sachin then pulled Hafeez half-heartedly to Umar Gul. Dropped."

 

[Temujin Khaghan]

Shahid afridi is a coward. He found out that his players were fixing and then quit.

What an effing chicken lol..

[Real McCoy]

4 hours ago, Switchblade said:

Seems his book just like Akhtar is more about him being the bigger man and bashing others he is critical of Amir Sohail, Miadad and Malik. 

Looks like he's targeting everybody including the two Ws, miandad, younis, misbah, feminists, Indian govt, BJP, Hindutva,etc. He looks to be a drama party and he is counting on his shock value to get eyeballs and sales for his book. Hopefully Indians don't buy his book considering his anti-India stance. I can't believe akthar's book was sold in India. Seems afridi has a small heart and also other body parts

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5 minutes ago, Real McCoy said:

Looks like he's targeting everybody including the two Ws, miandad, younis, misbah, feminists, Indian govt, BJP, Hindutva,etc. He looks to be a drama party and he is counting on his shock value to get eyeballs and sales for his book. Hopefully Indians don't buy his book considering his anti-India stance. I can't believe akthar's book was sold in India. Seems afridi has a small heart and also other body parts

Misbah is supporting his charity stuff and Afridi doing the same for Misbah so I believe he has not been critical of Misbah. But it's usual stuff I did this that I am great rest of them were not. 

[Mirpur express]

8 hours ago, Gollum said:

Enjoy dear Pakistanis

 

Koi kisi ka baap nahi hai. Yes I admit Gambhir was a much bigger player than Afridi and there was no need for some if the things he wrote anyways  Gambhir wrecked Shahid with the reply.

Edited May 4, 2019 by Mirpur express

[Khota]

I have no ill will towards Afridi. I though he was entertaining and fun to watch. I disagree with his comments about Gambhir but that does not make him a bad person.

[chewy]

The big question is, did Afridi win a World Cup?

 

Gambhir is WC winner.

 

Enough said

[philcric]

Afridi talking about 'personality'  

 

Looks like an interesting book though.

 

[The Dark Horse]

Good for Gambhir...this will get him some traction in his election campaign

[Franco Vazquez]

Tbh the book looks interesting and he has left no stones unturned. He has bashed everyone in the book. 

[Suhaan]

Afridi was a joker in his playing days and hasn't changed one bit since his retirement

Now he is fooling around with his book

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56 minutes ago, Franco Vazquez said:

Tbh the book looks interesting and he has left no stones unturned. He has bashed everyone in the book. 

Akhtar did the same as well it’s nothing new their players bash everyone except themselves.

[Zero_Unit]

Well, look at the brightside. Regardless of if you like the comment about Gambit, we get to know the dirty secrets behind the door. Most, if not all, are probably true but blown out of proportion. Can't imagine other cricketers giving out dirty closet secrets to the world lol

[Texy]

11 hours ago, SK_IH said:

 

clean bowled

[Franco Vazquez]

Most of the people here won't accept but Afridi is one of the most entertaining personality of cricket so I don't mind his book. His book is far more controversial than Akhtar's.

[Ajju]

2 hours ago, Zero_Unit said:

Well, look at the brightside. Regardless of if you like the comment about Gambit, we get to know the dirty secrets behind the door. Most, if not all, are probably true but blown out of proportion. Can't imagine other cricketers giving out dirty closet secrets to the world lol

Hope somebody should reveal about ipl fixing and script papers

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Shahid Afridi "I think Gautam Gambhir may have some problems. I am working with hospitals and I can get him very good treatment here"

Shahid Afridi "The Indian Government doesn't normally give visas to our people, but I will welcome everyone from India to Pakistan. Our people and our Government have always welcomed Indians and as for Gautam, I will get a visa arranged so that his treatment can be done here"

[Kothili]

On 5/3/2019 at 12:44 AM, Switchblade said:

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/gautam-gambhir-negative-has-no-personality-shahid-afridi-writes-in-autobiography/story-hUAZfkhK2r16bmrVVyJVQJ.html

 

Shahid Afridi slammed former India opener Gautam Gambhir by terming him as someone who has no personality and who has a lot of attitude problem in his recently released autobiography ‘Game Changer’. Afridi’s autobiography has been in the news as the former Pakistan captain revealed his actual age in it.

Referring to his rivalry with Gambhir as personal, Afridi went on to launch a no holds barred attack on the former India opener. “Some rivalries were personal, some professional. First the curious case of Gambhir. Oh poor Gautam. He & his attitude problem. He who has no personality. He who is barely a character in the great scheme of cricket. He who has no great records just a lot of attitude.”

Afridi further went on to add that Gambhir’s attitude cannot be termed as competitive, in fact, he was full of negativity during his playing days.

“Gambhir behaves like he’s a cross between Don Bradman & James Bond. In Karachi we call guys like him saryal (burnt up). Its simple, I like happy, positive people. Doesn’t matter if they are aggressive or competitive, but you have to be positive & Gambhir wasn’t,” he further wrote in his autobiography.

 

It all started back in 2007 when Afridi and Gambhir were involved in a bitter spat during an India vs Pakistan ODI in Kanpur. Both were fined for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct . Reacting on the incident, Afridi said, “I remember the run-in with Gambhir during the 2007 Asia Cup, when he completed his single while running straight into me. The umpires had to finish it off or I would have. Clearly we had a frank bilateral discussion about each other’s female relatives.”

 

Thank God we have no bilaterals anymore with these stinking farts...