Shahid Afridi is a 44 years old, super star cricketer from Pakistan
who enjoyed full on national and international fame throughout his career with
no match.
Shahid Afridi is 6th richest cricketer in world and
26th richest man in Pakistan with worth of (PKR 4.3 BILLION) US 41$million.
Asides earning from sports he leaped as successful
entrepreneur after launching his clothing line named ‘Widyaan’ and Eatery
restaurant chain ‘Splice’ in Pakistan.
He is owner of SHAHID AFRIDI FOUNDATION (SAF) which works in
providing health and education facilities for poor.
He worked as brand ambassador for many national and
international brands but…but…
His recently published book GAME CHANGER has scored sixer
again by Shahid Afridi and turned him out as overnight sensation of sub
continent after penning his personal opinions in the book which turned to be
controversial hits.
WAJAHAT S KHAN
More than two years ago Shahid Afridi’s interview aired on ‘DUNYA
TV’ by daring journalist in ‘Muhaaz with Wajahat S Khan’.
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| Muhaaz with 'Wajhat S Khan and Shahi Afridi' |
The host asked Shahid: ‘What do you say about Indian cricket board at backing of their cricketers?’
Shahid Afridi replied, ‘Leave them, we can’t even follow
them,’
‘Why…how…?’ the host insisted.
‘They know how to make
money from money. They invest on their heroes to set them as star and revert
back all investment with profit. We as nation put efforts to earn money but
don’t think of multiplying it but cease our stars as well as money somewhere until
it devalued.’ It might be that statement which appealed the team of two geniuses
that they decided not only to write a book but to make it as
controversial as possible;
THE BEST MARKETING
STRATEGY and it worked to mount their bank
accounts. Wajhat S Khan is co-author
of book.
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| cover page of GAME CHANGER |
The book is worth buying and reviewing by itself not to take just gossip notes from media as Shahid says in his recent tweet:
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| Shahid Afridi's tweet on endorsing his autobiography |
We’ll just
put a sneak
look on its places of interest.
Let’s start by the fuming across border fuming controversy.
What Shahid Afridi talks about Indian opener Gautam Ghambir in Game changer?
He states, ‘Oh poor Ghutam. He and his attitude problems. He has no
personality. He has no great records just lot of attitudes. In Karachi, we call
boys like him SARIAL(burnt up).’ Shihid
Afridi told about his rivalary started when Ghatum straight hit in me at playground and we ended up by abusing each other’s female relatives.
This part gave Shahid’s book a big click at Indian readers as
Ghutam and Shahid continued continued feud on twitter afterwards.
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| Gautam Gambhir, Indian opener tweet on Game changer |
and just spot at Shahid's spontaneous response
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| Shahid afridi's reply to Ghutam Ghambir's tweet |
now as Shahid states he's been tough one somewhere but give due credit too.
Sachin Tendulkar in Shahid Afridi’s GAME CHANGER
That bat he used to score fastest century; 100 runs out of 37
balls in 1996, at his first international ODI was of actually Sachin Tandulark’s.
He gave that bat to Waqar Younas to manufacture the same bat from Sialkot(a
city in Pakistan, famous for its international standard sports goods
manufacturing). At my first appearance Waqar Yunas provided me that bat and its an honour.
WHAT SHAHID AFRIDI DISCLOSED OF HIS PARTY SCENES AND AFFAIRS
He deliberately talks about his relations, parties and pre
marriage flirts through Phone and social media.
He stated that once I got in touch to a beautiful voice on
phone and our friendship continued for more than two months. At last we decided
to meet up at Eid. I waited for moment but as soon as I opened the door then
a13 years old boy was waving at me with his family who was making me fool since
two months sounding like any girl.
What Shahid Afridi talks about Bilawal Bhutto in Game Changer?
Shahid states that once he had conflicts with PCB chairman Ijaz Butt when Bilawal
Bhutto approached him and told me that he can resolve any conflict and can all
set if Shahid Afridi agrees to join PPP public gatherings at Larkana and at
other places. He refuses any political favor though but in few days Shahid came
to reveal that Bilawal was just the face but the real string was in Asif
Zardari’s hands which he didn’t like at all.
What Shahid Afridi talks about Nawaz Sharif in Game Changer?
Though having allegations of corruption and Panama papers
scandal etc but Nawaz Sharif knows how to deliver. It can be testified by comparing
the development of Lahore to other three provincial capitals at previous
tenure.
What Shahid Afridi talks about Kashmir in GAME CHANGER?
He states, ‘So much resources go into guarding this territory.
So much goes into policing Line of
Control,so many mouths can get fed, so many minds can be nourished, if India and Pakistan resolve the Kashmir issue.’
He really wants to see a peaceful solution of Kashmir issue as per Kashmiri’s
consent.
"we have to save Kashmiri people, and we must involve them in peace
process. Nobody in Indian subcontinent has suffered or struggled more than Kashmiris," he says.
What Shahid Afridi talks about senior players Javed miandad, Waqar Younis in GAME CHANGER?
He states, ‘Javed Miandad developed strong opinion against me
from scratch and he even didn’t allow me to practice at my first Test Match. So
I had to practice alone with stringed ball and amid clouds of angst and embarrassment
I played my first test match.’
Javed Miandad’s stance on Game Changer
‘I left my decision on Allah. How could anyone halt a player
to practice?’ Javed says.
And about Waqar he states,
"So as Waqar Younas never let
go past. He was mediocre captain but terrible coach. Always micromanaging and
getting in the way of captain- me. He was a mediocre captain but a terrible coach."
We don’t find Waqar’s stance over it but another legend star
cricketer from Pakistan Shoaib Akhtar not only endorsed Shahid’s book but gratified him in his
tweet:
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| what Shaib akhtar tweet about game changer |
What Shahid Afridi talks about Imran khan and PTI in Game changer?
He praised Imran khan for his approach toward reforms in
society and peace offers to India. He states that Imran khan should be given
chance and due respect as Prime Minister of Pakistan. Although he says that PTI
is combination of ‘Lotas’ opportunists from other parties and style of leading
the party is not much appealing.
He states, We all know he had an abrasive, confrontational,
take-no-prisoners style of leadership. But he never got personal…By the way,
they say that Khan, now prime minister of Pakistan, runs his cabinet the same
way.”
What Shahid Afridi talks about his daughters in Game Changer?
Shahid Afridi is blessed with four daughters Ansha, Ajwa,
Asmara and Aqsa Afridi.
He states that, ‘ Ajwa and Asmara are youngest and love to
play dress up. Cricket? No, not for my girls. They have my permission to play
all the indoor games they want, but my daughters are not going to be competing
in public sporting activities,’ he writes
This piece of writing makes his book most controversial from
feminist part of society.
Yet, he is not in favor of his girls playing in public but as
father he has many other opportunities for his girls like he shown in his
recent tweet:
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| Shahid Afridi's love for his daughters in tweet |
Shahid Afridi left controversy about claiming his right age in Game changer
Shahid Afridi has left a biggest controversy in his book for
great thinkers of Cricket and ICC that he was actually 21 not 16, when he scored his
first fastest century and secured two records at time; One of fastest century
and other was youngest of cricketer with century at age of 16 but… but… as he
was born in 1975 and officially it was recorded as 1980…so what about the
record now…
A petition has been filed against Afridi’s track record in
court after this statement.
What Shahid Afridi revealed about 2010 spot fixing scandal in game changer?
Shahid Afridi talks in detail about dirty and sluggish
attitude of officials even when he informed them about something noticeable at
dressing rooms, about Salman Butt, Asif Ali and Amir’s contact with buki Mazhar
Majeed.
He states that he showed transcripts of massages to between
Majeed’s and players to team Manager Yawar Saeed but he was like:
“What can we
do about this, son? Not much, Not much.” he continued,
“Frankly, I don’t think the management gave a damn. It still
was nobody’s problem: that’s why nobody wanted to tackle it. Typical obfuscation
and delay tactics; the Pakistani management’s head was in sand.”
What Shahid Afridi talk about PAK ARMY?
Like every pakistani he salutes the role of PAK ARMY in fighting against terrorism but that ARMY should not indulge in politics but to stay focused on defence affairs of country.
It was just a sneak look on the book. There
is much more to discover, to discern and to feast from “GAME CHANGER” that how he turned to be BOOM BOOM. From Baller to batsmen... His childhood and teen adventures at streets of KPK. his heart breaking moments...so what
are you waiting from go and grab your cop…or are you waiting for copied
edition…umm… head is down in sand then.