Wasim Akram about being forced into treatment for cocaine addiction. – ‘They kept me there for two and a half months against my will’. Wasim Akram mention ‘I went to a place (in Pakistan) with a corridor and eight rooms’.
Legendary Pakistani bowler Wasim Akram has spoken candidly about one of his most difficult times. When he struggle with cocaine addiction and was force to halt on the advice of his first wife, Huma Mufti. Between 1984 and 2003, Akram participated in 356 One Day Internationals and 104 Test matches. He is well known for being one of the greatest fast bowlers to ever play the sport.
In his latest book, Sultan: A Memoir, Akram describes how his cocaine addiction made it impossible for him. To socialize when he was living in England. He continue by saying that he was coerce into rehabilitation for 2.5 months against his choice. The former captain of Pakistan came to the conclusion that he felt like a “rebellion” and came out of rehab with strong feelings.
“In England, somebody at a party said ‘you wanna try it?’ I was retired, I said ‘yea’h. Then one line became a gram. I came back to Pakistan. Nobody knew what it was but it was available. I realised, I couldn’t function without it, which means I couldn’t socialise without it. It got worse and worse. My kids were young. I was hurting my late wife a lot. We would have arguments. She said I need help.”
Akram writes in his autobiography.
“She said there’s a rehab, you can go there. I said alright I will go there for a month but they kept me there for two and a half months against my will. Apparently, that is illegal in the world but not in Pakistan. That didn’t help me. When I came out, a rebellion came into me. It’s my money, I stayed in that horrible place against my will.”
He added.
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“It was very very tough, a horrible time” Wasim Akram said.
Akram says it wasn’t like the treatment facilities in Hollywood movies and points out that there were no lawns or gyms there. He describe the environment of the vacant Pakistani rooms and state that it was a difficult period.
“In western movies, even in Australia you see rehabs have lovely big lawns, people give lectures, you go to gym. But I went to a place (in Pakistan) with a corridor and eight rooms, that’s it. It was very very tough. It was a horrible time.”
He conclude.
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