Former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram and his wife, Shaniera Akram, have opened up about their 14-year marriage, family life, raising children, cricket and some of the controversies they have faced over the years. The couple, who have been married for 14 years, reflected on their journey together and the challenges they encountered in the early years of their relationship.
Their marriage initially attracted considerable attention from the media and the public, with questions surrounding their age difference, cultural backgrounds and Wasim Akram’s previous marriage. In an interview with a private media group, Shaniera Akram said that when she married Wasim Akram, there were several factors that could have been seen as challenges, including their age difference, cultural differences and Wasim’s previous marriage.
However, she never considered these things obstacles to their love. After arriving in Pakistan, she saw Wasim’s advertisements everywhere and finally realised just how popular her husband was in the country. Shaniera also spoke about her relationship with Wasim Akram’s sons, Akbar and Taimur, from his first marriage. She said that when she first met them, she immediately fell in love with both of them.
According to Shaniera, there eventually came a point when she felt she needed to take on the role of a mother rather than simply being their friend. She told the boys that there would be times when she might get angry with them, but she would always be there for them and would never abandon them. Wasim said that he never pressured his sons to play cricket. Instead, he gave them the freedom to choose whichever career or field they wanted to pursue.
While discussing the current state of Pakistani cricket, Wasim Akram said that when the national team fails to perform well, fans naturally lose interest in the sport. He recalled that cricket once held a special place in the hearts of Pakistanis and was almost like a national sport. During the 1980s and 1990s, cricketers were regarded as national heroes.
Speaking about his own past, Wasim said that he no longer lives in it. According to him, the past cannot be changed, so he prefers to focus on the present and plan for the future. Wasim also discussed the difficult periods of his life that he wrote about in his autobiography. He said that writing the book was not easy because he had to relive both his greatest successes and some of the most difficult and tragic moments of his life.
Shaniera said that she considers both Karachi and Melbourne her home. She added that whenever she sees something that could potentially harm someone, she feels that she cannot remain silent. She spoke about raising her voice on several social issues, including health, cleanliness and safety. She also noted that many changes have taken place in society over the past 14 years. Shaniera thanked Wasim for always supporting her and said that he has never tried to silence her or suppress her opinions. Instead, he has given her the freedom to speak openly and express herself.
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