Whilst covering the 5th ODI between England and India at Headingley, Saj from PakPassion.net ran into a familiar face for Pakistan fans - a face that had terrorised batsmen from all over the world for many years in the past...

By Saj Sadiq (6th September, 2014)

I went to Headingley on Friday to the one day international between England and India. It was as we have seen a fairly one-sided and timid affair played in front of a packed house.

I had to venture to the 5th floor of the fantastic Headingley pavilion to see one of the guys working for a radio station. As I walked past the closed doors on the 5th floor I couldn't help but sneak a look through the glass panes and what was going on. As I walked past the Star Sports room I noticed a few familiar faces, including Harsha Bhogle, Saurav Ganguly, Sanjay Manjrekar and others. However what really caught my eye was a broad-shouldered man sat on one of the chairs at the back of the commentary room, someone who over the years terrorised batsman around the world.........it was the one and only Shoaib Akhtar. Closely sat by Shoaib was the instantly recognisable Wasim Akram.

Now those of you that know me, know I'm not a shy person and someone who would let such an opportunity pass him by. So in I quietly walked and said my hellos and salams to everyone. Welcoming faces greeted me and Wasim Akram who I've interviewed a few times recognised me and said salam, Harsha who I've also interviewed previously also said hello, as did some of the others.

Wasim asked me how I was and we spoke about some of the recent events in Pakistan cricket and how PakPassion was doing. After a short while Wasim introduced me to Shoaib who I hadn't seen since 2010 also in Leeds when he was part of the Pakistan one-day squad.

Shoaib smiled and said that he knew about PakPassion and that he remembered doing an interview with me organised by a mutual friend of ours (former Pakistan pace bowler Yasir Ali). Shoaib was very pleasant asking about the site, asking what the latest news was about Ahmed Shehzad and various other aspects of Pakistan cricket. It was clear that he'd mellowed and was totally different to the hell-raising pace bowler who terrified batsmen during his playing days.

He was joking around with co-commentators, very relaxed and was also teasing some of his co-commentators. At one point he and Manjrekar were singing a Noor Jahan song. For those interested, Shoaib and Sanjay both had very decent singing voices. Shoaib also said a few lines of poetry which were appreciated by all those around him, although his Urdu went way over my head.

He buzzed off Wasim Akram as we chatted about the current state of Pakistan cricket and the difficult challenges it faces. It was fascinating listening to the passion that both Shoaib and Wasim still have for Pakistan cricket and anyone who doubts their love for Pakistan cricket really has no clue.

Shoaib cracked jokes, he teased Ganguly regularly, at one point he grabbed hold of one of the Star Sports teccies and lifted him off the ground easily. Shoaib was impressed with his own strength and smiled, whilst the teccie winced in pain. Here was a man at ease with himself, a man who was clearly enjoying himself and someone who was very happy with life.

As I left the Star Sports commentary room Shoaib agreed to do an interview and said that I should catch up with him later, which I did.

We also caught up in the dining area later where Shoaib expressed his displeasure with the curry that was on offer, which he described as sweet and not to his taste Shoaib stated that he'd played a few games for Lashings whilst in England which he had enjoyed but he was feeling homesick and missing his wife and looking forward to returning home next week.

He also stated that he was enjoying the fact that he is still involved in cricket via commentary and that he hoped that this would continue.

I'd met Shoaib a few times over the years but it was always during the intensity of a cricket match, or at practice session, or prior to a match, but this was fascinating meeting him in a relaxed environment and in an environment where he could be himself and be open and be fun.

He was a very likeable man, very amicable, very friendly and I was greatly impressed by him. Many have questioned his personality and labelled him arrogant, but after meeting him yesterday I would disagree with those who criticise his personality.

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