Concerning his “cocaine addiction,” Akram makes the startling admission: “Went to Karachi stating it was for business, but I partied.”

One of the greatest fast bowlers in history is regarded as being Wasim Akram, a former captain of Pakistan. Akram played for Pakistan for the next 19 years after making his international debut in 1984. Akram held the record for taking the most ODI wickets (502) until Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka overtook him in 2009. Akram represented Pakistan in 104 Test matches, taking 414 wickets overall with 25 five-wicket hauls. The former left-arm spinner also had the highest wicket total in the 1992 World Cup, which saw Pakistan win the title for the first time.

The former cricketer, who did retire as one of Pakistan’s all-time greats, has now come clean about a very dark time in his life after playing. After retiring, Akram, now 56, admitted to having a cocaine addiction and stated he had undergone therapy, but it had had no impact.

In his upcoming biography, “Sultan: A Memoir,” Akram reportedly says, “I wanted to pamper myself; I loved to party.”

I felt the effects of South Asia’s well-known culture, which is all-consuming, enticing, and corrupting. Some people attend ten parties in one night, and I felt the impact of that as well. My technology turned into a vice.

“The worst thing is that I developed a cocaine addiction. My use began innocently enough when I was offered a line at a party in England, but it became increasingly more severe to the point where I felt I needed it to function, Akram said.

According to Akram, his addiction became so serious that he started secretly traveling to Karachi to party. I am aware that around this time, Huma (Akram’s then-wife) often expressed a desire to move to Karachi to be nearer to her parents and siblings, but I was against it.