Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram reveals he was addicted to cocaine

Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has revealed that he developed a cocaine addiction after retiring from the sport, but quit after the death of his first wife in 2009. The 56-year-old has opened up about his cocaine dependence in his upcoming autobiography ‘Sultan’. : A Memoir.’

Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in both Test and ODI cricket said he began to yearn for “an alternative to the adrenaline rush of competition” when he was traveling away from his first wife, Huma.

Akram told the Times, “The culture of fame in South Asia is all-consuming, seductive and corrupt. You can go to 10 parties in one night, and do some. And it made a huge difference to me.”

“It destabilized me. It made me a cheater. Huma, I know, was often alone during this time… She used to talk about her desire to move to Karachi, her parents and siblings to be close to.

“I was reluctant. Why? Partly because I loved going to Karachi on my own, pretending it was work when it was really about partying, often for several days at a time.”

Widely regarded as one of the best bowlers of all time, Akram made his international debut in 1985, playing 104 Tests and 356 ODIs for Pakistan. He took 414 Test wickets and 502 ODI wickets.

“Huma finally found me, finding a pack of cocaine in my wallet… ‘You need help.’ I agreed. It was getting out of hand. I couldn’t control it. One row would become two, two would become four, four would become one gram, one gram would become two. I could not sleep. I ate could not.

“I became inattentive to my diabetes, which gave me headaches and mood swings. Like a lot of addicts, part of me welcomed the discovery: Privacy was running out.”

Akram went to rehab but his experience with the doctor was pleasant, resulting in a relapse.

“The doctor was a complete con man, who primarily worked on manipulating families instead of treating patients, on separating relatives from money rather than users of drugs,” he said.

“Try as much as you can, a part of me was still smoldering inside what I had to endure. My pride was hurt, and the charm of my lifestyle remained.

“I briefly contemplated divorce. I agreed to leave for the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy, where, under Huma’s daily scrutiny, I started using again.”

However, the veteran pacer, who continued with commentary and coaching assignments around the world, said that he eventually stopped after Huma’s sudden death from a rare fungal infection in 2009.

He said, “Huma’s last selfless, unconscious act was treating me for my drug problem. That way of life had come to an end, and I never looked back.”

Originally published at Pen 18