In his upcoming autobiography, “Sultan: A Memoir,” former Pakistani Test captain Wasim Akram disclosed his post-retirement cocaine addiction.
The 56-year-old has talked openly about his reliance on cocaine. The top wicket-taker in Test and One-Day International cricket for Pakistan claimed that while away from his first wife Huma, he began to yearn for “a substitute for the adrenaline rush of competition.”
“I enjoyed ruining myself and going out to parties. In South Asia, the fame culture is all-consuming, alluring, and corrupting. A night can have ten parties, and some people do. And I felt the effects of it.
“The worst part is that I became dependent on cocaine. My use gradually became more serious to the point where I felt I had to use it in order to function after I was offered a line at a party in England. It all seemed innocent enough at the time.
“Huma finally found that I was lying after finding a packet of cocaine in my wallet… You require aid. I concurred. It was out of control. I was powerless to stop it. One line would multiply by two, which would then multiply by four, which would multiply by one, which would multiply by two. I had trouble falling asleep. I was unable to eat.
“I lost track of my diabetes, which resulted in headaches and mood swings for me. Like many addicts, a part of me welcomed the revelation because the secrecy had been draining. Akram sought treatment, but his encounter with the doctor was anything but pleasant, causing him to relapse.
He claimed that the doctor was a “complete con man” who focused more on manipulating families than treating patients and on separating relatives from money than drug users.
No matter what I did, a part of me was still smouldering inside about the humiliation of what had happened to me. My pride was wounded, but the allure of my way of life persisted.
“I briefly thought about divorcing. I decided to go to the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy, where I was able to resume using away from Huma’s daily scrutiny. But the renowned pacer, who still accepts commentary and coaching jobs abroad, claimed that he eventually stopped after Huma passed away unexpectedly in 2009 from a rare fungal infection.
In 2003, Akram’s 18-year career came to an end. He is still regarded as one of Pakistan’s all-time best fast bowlers. The left-arm pacer claimed 502 ODI and 414 Test wickets.
The former cricketer-turned-commentator battled drug addiction for a very long time, but it was only resolved after the death of his first wife.
“Huma helped me overcome my drug addiction in his final selfless, unintentional deed. I have never looked back because that way of life was over, he continued.
