‘Babar hota to arrest kar lete’ – Fans react to Wasim Akram opening up on tragic incident involving wife and Indian authorities

Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram discussed several controversial topics including match-fixing allegations, ball tampering, and substance abuse in his autobiography Sultan: A Memoir. He participated in a discussion of his autobiography at The Hindu Lit for Life Literature Festival. Speaking at the event, Akram shared an emotional anecdote about his late wife Huma Akram. Mrs. Akram passed away in 2009 due to kidney and heart-related complications.

Wasim Akram was traveling to Singapore with his wife in an air ambulance in 2009 when the flight halted for refueling in Chennai. Mrs. Akram was supposed to receive treatment from Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Akram mentioned that the Indian officials in Chennai were warm, well-behaved, and supported him to a great extent.

‘I will never forget that as a cricketer and as a human being’ – Wasim Akram

“I was flying to Singapore with my late wife and there was a stop in Chennai for refueling. When we landed, she was unconscious, I was crying and people recognized me at the airport. We didn’t have an Indian visa. We both had Pakistani passports. The people at the Chennai airport, the security forces, and the customs and immigration officials told me not to worry about the visa and take my wife to the hospital while they sort the visa out. That is something I will never forget, as a cricketer and as a human being,” Wasim Akram was heard saying at The Hindu Lit for Life event.

At the same event, Wasim Akram also remembered the famous Test win at Chennai in 1999. He is considered one of the greatest pacers of all time. Alongside Waqar Younis, Akram created a deadly pace duo in the 1990s that batters feared to face. Akram, known to be a jack of both swing and seam, represented Pakistan in 104 Tests, claiming 414 wickets at an average of 23.62. The current head coach of the Pakistan Super League team, Karachi Kings, also represented his country in 356 One-Day Internationals picking up 502 wickets.

Here’s how fans reacted to Wasim Akram sharing the emotional anecdote: