Shah Rukh Khan finds Shoaib the most exci

Shah Rukh Khan finds Shoaib the most exciting character among the star cast



Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan finds Shoaib the most exciting character among the star cast involved in the forthcoming blockbuster India-Pakistan series.

He has been reported for chucking, banned for drugs, reprimanded for indiscipline, involved in spats with his coach and has physically assaulted his teammate. Where there is Shoaib Akhtar, there is controversy.

But he is blessed with the ability to bowl faster than anyone on earth, which means, despite his failings, he remains one of the biggest draws in international cricket.

Controversy, flamboyance and pace combined make him a great subject of interest and intrigue.

Great character

No wonder, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan finds him the most exciting character among the star cast involved in the forthcoming blockbuster India-Pakistan series.

"I find him one of the great characters of the game. He is that typical, mean, aggressive fast bowler. I enjoy watching him," Shah Rukh said while chairing the MiD DAY editorial meeting on Wednesday.

Shah Rukh said he knows the bowler personally and finds him intimidating.
"He is a scary fast bowler. He came to my house and I told him, 'Please don't play with the kids' as you know he can really bowl fast," revealed Shah Rukh.
"Pakistan has a great tradition of fast bowlers.

Shoaib has continued the legacy of Imran Khan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis," the star said.

Shah Rukh defended Akhtar's maverick ways which often land him in controversy and compared him to heavyweight boxing champions like Sonny Liston and Mike Tyson.

"Liston, whom Muhammad Ali defeated for the world heavyweight title was the opposite of Ali. While, Ali was a glib talker and suave, Liston found it difficult to communicate. When Ali would recite poems, he could only grunt during fights.

Natural aggression

"But Liston said he was not jealous about Ali being so articulate. Liston would have liked to be like Ali, but sometimes because of your traumatic life experiences you are so overwhelmed that you can't express it. Most of them (boxers) come from the streets, the kind of things they have gone through — crime, jail — affects their behaviour. It doesn't mean they are bad. That is the way they have been brought up.

"Akhtar looks similar. He is aggressive and that's his natural self. That makes him an exciting player and he should stay that way."

The Indian actor felt that everyone was entitled to privacy, and what Akhtar does off field is nobody's business.