Wasim Akram Narrates Shah Rukh Khan's Hospitality Tale: 'Pura Boeing Jahaaz Khada Thha...'
During Wasim Akram's tenure, he came across a wonderful moment that showcased the love Shah Rukh Khan had and still has for his players.
Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram has narrated how Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan once arranged for a private flight for the team on the first time of asking, as the then bowling coach said that the players would be tired from a layover flight.
During Akram‘s tenure, he came across a wonderful moment that showcased the love Shah Rukh had and still has for his players.
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In an interview with VU Sports, Akram recalled an incident from IPL 2012, where he had made a request to Shah Rukh regarding how the cricketers would get tired as they would be reaching the venue on the eve of the match.
Akram, as a bowling coach, was rightfully concerned that the exhaustion and tiredness were likely to have an impact on the result of the upcoming game.
“I think this happened during the 2012 IPL season. Our knockout match was in Kolkata and I remember we were going to arrive via some place. Shah Rukh Khan was there, so I asked him, ‘Khan saab, ek request hai (Mr Khan, I have a request)," Akram said.
“I said, ‘Ladke bade thak jayenge, hum kal pahunchenge, parso match hai. Toh agar ek private plane (The team will get extremely tired. We’ll reach tomorrow, and the match is the day after. If a private plane could be arranged)," Akram added.
The former Pakistan cricketer narrated how Shah Rukh didn’t hesitate for a moment before making the necessary arrangements.
“He said, ‘Thak jayenge ladke? Koi problem nahi (They’ll get tired, you say, no problem). Within one hour, pura Boeing jahaaz khada tha for the whole team," Akram said.
Later in his autobiography, the former Pakistan cricketer revealed how crucial the Kolkata job was for him after spending his days in a drug rehab centre in Lahore under harsh conditions.
“Movies conjure up an image of rehab as a caring, nurturing environment. This facility in Lahore was brutal: a bare building with five cells, a meeting room and a kitchen. Once out, I tried to keep calm, to get centred," Akram wrote.
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