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Cutting Edge: My Autobiography
From the street of Karachi to the great Test centres of the world, the enigmatic Pakistani cricket hero Javad Miandad takes readers on a riveting journey through his many accomplishments as a player as well as a coach and not mincing words about his disappointments. Former England captain Tony Greig has written the foreword.
394 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 8, 2021
Javed Miandad once used to be my favourite cricketer.He was a great fighter,with a never say die attitude.
His impact on Pakistan cricket is indelible.To his fans,he was the greatest Pakistan batsman who could salvage any situation.To his detractors,he was that "cheeky little devil",who could get under their skin.
This book encompasses all the controversies and landmarks of Miandad's career.At nineteen, he scored a debut hundred against New Zealand.In the third Test,he became Test cricket's youngest double centurion.
His Sharjah six,against India,in 1986, is part of
cricketing folklore when he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. It was a heart stopping finish.It was an unforgettable moment,Miandad had just one ball in which to hit a four.He hit a resounding six instead.
There is the ugly side as well.He was once kicked by Dennis Lillee,another controversial figure.Miandad turned around sharply,his bat aimed at Lillee's head,but then the umpire came between them.
Two years later,while playing an exhibition game in India,Lillee hit Miandad on the head with a bouncer.He wasn't wearing a helmet.
Miandad was seriously injured and as he tells it,his life was in danger.But he was still a run machine after that horrific injury.
There is also a brief account of his marriage,his wife belonged to one of Pakistan's richest families and her family opposed the marriage.Nevertheless,Miandad married her,he was just 23 at the time.
As captain,he was less than stellar.The entire team revolted against his captaincy,and he was replaced by Imran Khan.He was made captain after a disastrous tour of India,and the senior players resented his elevation.He was far too young at the time.
He gives a detailed account of that episode as well.But he bounced back and had several more stints as captain,in Imran's absence.
There is an entire chapter
devoted to his difficult relationship with Imran Khan.Imran once declared when Miandad was batting on 280,and in sight of Test cricket's highest individual score.That was not to be,Miandad was left high and dry,and very upset with Imran.
He tried again and again for the world record,ending up with six double hundreds but never quite got there.
He had a particular fondness for India's bowlers,against whom he scored heavily.Both in 1978 and 1982,both he and Zaheer Abbas plundered India's bowlers at will.New Zealand was another team against which he scored very heavily.
In 1988,he stood up to the onslaught of the West Indian pace bowlers,to score two of his finest hundreds.Finally,he had tamed the demons of the most feared pace attack of the era.
He ended his career as Pakistan's highest Test scorer,and arguably,its best batsman ever.He has a unique record,his Test average never dropped below 50,from his first Test till his last.He also scored hundreds,in his first,fifteeth,and hundredth Tests.
It was a heady era for Pakistan cricket and Miandad at his peak was one of the best batsmen in the world,particularly in pressure situations.
The last years of his career were dogged by a back injury,troubles with administrators and squabbles with the new captain,Wasim Akram.
But before that,he was able to play a key role in Pakistan's 1992 World Cup victory.He played a crucial innings in the final against England and the World Cup which seemed there for the taking in 1987,was finally won in 1992,in dramatic fashion.
Miandad was captain again during the controversial 1992 tour of England,this time Imran Khan was sidelined.Pakistan won the five Test series.That was the last highlight of his career,though he played on for a while.
A very entertaining book,full marks to Saad Shafqat,the co-writer.
His impact on Pakistan cricket is indelible.To his fans,he was the greatest Pakistan batsman who could salvage any situation.To his detractors,he was that "cheeky little devil",who could get under their skin.
This book encompasses all the controversies and landmarks of Miandad's career.At nineteen, he scored a debut hundred against New Zealand.In the third Test,he became Test cricket's youngest double centurion.
His Sharjah six,against India,in 1986, is part of
cricketing folklore when he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. It was a heart stopping finish.It was an unforgettable moment,Miandad had just one ball in which to hit a four.He hit a resounding six instead.
There is the ugly side as well.He was once kicked by Dennis Lillee,another controversial figure.Miandad turned around sharply,his bat aimed at Lillee's head,but then the umpire came between them.
Two years later,while playing an exhibition game in India,Lillee hit Miandad on the head with a bouncer.He wasn't wearing a helmet.
Miandad was seriously injured and as he tells it,his life was in danger.But he was still a run machine after that horrific injury.
There is also a brief account of his marriage,his wife belonged to one of Pakistan's richest families and her family opposed the marriage.Nevertheless,Miandad married her,he was just 23 at the time.
As captain,he was less than stellar.The entire team revolted against his captaincy,and he was replaced by Imran Khan.He was made captain after a disastrous tour of India,and the senior players resented his elevation.He was far too young at the time.
He gives a detailed account of that episode as well.But he bounced back and had several more stints as captain,in Imran's absence.
There is an entire chapter
devoted to his difficult relationship with Imran Khan.Imran once declared when Miandad was batting on 280,and in sight of Test cricket's highest individual score.That was not to be,Miandad was left high and dry,and very upset with Imran.
He tried again and again for the world record,ending up with six double hundreds but never quite got there.
He had a particular fondness for India's bowlers,against whom he scored heavily.Both in 1978 and 1982,both he and Zaheer Abbas plundered India's bowlers at will.New Zealand was another team against which he scored very heavily.
In 1988,he stood up to the onslaught of the West Indian pace bowlers,to score two of his finest hundreds.Finally,he had tamed the demons of the most feared pace attack of the era.
He ended his career as Pakistan's highest Test scorer,and arguably,its best batsman ever.He has a unique record,his Test average never dropped below 50,from his first Test till his last.He also scored hundreds,in his first,fifteeth,and hundredth Tests.
It was a heady era for Pakistan cricket and Miandad at his peak was one of the best batsmen in the world,particularly in pressure situations.
The last years of his career were dogged by a back injury,troubles with administrators and squabbles with the new captain,Wasim Akram.
But before that,he was able to play a key role in Pakistan's 1992 World Cup victory.He played a crucial innings in the final against England and the World Cup which seemed there for the taking in 1987,was finally won in 1992,in dramatic fashion.
Miandad was captain again during the controversial 1992 tour of England,this time Imran Khan was sidelined.Pakistan won the five Test series.That was the last highlight of his career,though he played on for a while.
A very entertaining book,full marks to Saad Shafqat,the co-writer.
August 15, 2021
Most sporting biographies are often incomplete. The players either avoid the sensitive or controversial topics or just skim the surface. They also often don’t revel their true feelings and thoughts. You will not have any such complaints with Javed Miandad’s book. On both counts, he does a great job.
He discusses everything in detail. The state of Pakistan cricket, its corruption and mismanagement, the infighting in the team and multiple captaincy changes, the match fixing and ball tampering allegations and all the controversies surrounding his exit from the game and his multiple stints as coach. You can call him biased or unfair but definitely not shy or afraid to speak his mind.
A recurring theme is his relationship with Imran Khan. He talks about all the slights. Sometimes dedicating full chapters to them. Being left stranded on 280, the 1992 World Cup final speech, Imran’s dictatorial ways, his privileged background and its many benefits and even his career as a politician. It’s not all grudges. There is effusive praise also. But he vents to his hearts content. Even doing a comparison of their captaincy records and showing how he controibuted to imran’s wins but the Pathan was never around for his.
The wonderful Pakistani writer Osman Samiuddin called this book one-eyed. And he is absolutely right in a way. Miandad’s narratives are often biased and one sided. He is always right. He’s the unsung hero of many triumphs. He’s often the victim and aggrieved party. There is often a reason for his failures.
But Samiuddin misses one key point. This isn’t a history of Pakistan cricket. This is the autobiography of Javed Miandad. We aren’t reading this book to verify facts. We are reading this book to understand Javed Miandad the man and his mind. And all the one-sided narratives actually help us in doing that. They offer a profound glimpse into how Miandad thought and operated.
Miandad’s mental models will become apparent as you read this book. Playing the victim was how he constantly motivated himself. A self made man who was always fighting to get his “izzat”. And he was at his best when he was motivated thus. So he often invented imaginary slights. He was also a master of other mind games. Even as greenhorn on his first overseas tour in Australia, he refused to get intimidated by the bouncers or the sledging. He always backed himself because in his mind he was a winner who couldn’t be denied by fair means. It’s fascinating how he can justify everything. You can call him delusional but his success came from never losing the mental battles.
I had an ambivalent relationship with Miandad. I hated him and admired him at the same time. So I found this book really interesting. It helped me make sense of the man and his mind.
May 28, 2016
Javed Miandad!!!!! Himself, a franchise, in Pakistan cricket. His batting legacy was like word of mouth and the name was widespread since his dream test debut against New Zealand in 1976. Overall, in his 25-years cricketing career, he played over 800 games, scored over 40,000 runs, crossed 50-mark 333 times, out of which he reached his three-figures mark on 93 occasions and almost 500 catches….
Till this date (8.8.13), Miandad is 13th in most test runs in career with 8832 runs. Has 6 double-hundreds in tests the most by any Pakistani player and 5th overall. His biggest achievement in his cricketing career is 1992 World Cup. That was the 5th edition of World Cup played in Australia and New Zealand for the first time in colorful kits. This was Miandad’s 5th attempt for the title where he was 2nd top-scorer in the whole tournament few runs behind Martin Crowe of New Zealand. To an utmost bizarre, Miandad was shockingly not selected in the world cup squad due to a minor injury which wasn’t even threatening. He was finally recalled after huge batting failure in warm-up games and the rest is history.
Miandad was the first player ever to reach 1000-runs mark in World Cup career and play six world cups. His test batting average never came down below 50 since his 1st test inning till the end which is quite a rare and unique test record which most probably no test batsman has ever accomplished in history. Till this date (8.8.13) he is the youngest test player to score a double-century for 35 years as no one has ever reached the mark in his teen-age. For 26 years, he is still holding record of most fifties in ODIs in cosecutive innings (9).
His autobiography ‘Cutting Edge’ was published in 2003, forwarded by the great Tony Grieg and co-authored by famous columnist of Cricinfo, Saad Shafqat. His memories knew no bound when he begins from the background where he belongs and speaks about his father who was majorly responsible for Karachi cricket by contributing a lot to KCCA (Karachi City Cricket Association). On father’s advice, he plays for Habib Bank and becomes the soul of their batting line. His batting phenomenon is witnessed by one of Pakistan cricket’s finest administrator, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, and predict him “Find of the Decade”.
‘Cutting Edge’ is comprised of 23 chapters but being a reader, I am terribly surprised to notice that only one chapter belongs to his memorable knock in Sharjah, but two chapters are acclimatizing account about his anger towards Imran’s inning declaration at his personal best score of 280 not out. This is Hyderabad test against India where Miandad is avoided to reach triple hundred or further break the-then test cricket record of highest individual score in test inning by Sir Gary Sobers which was 365 not out against Pakistan.
There are 3 different chapters dedicated to England, Australia and West Indies. English one is about his playing experience on English surface and more about his county career in Sussex and Glamorgan. Australia and West Indies one each separately speaks about their counters with Pakistan. Another chapter ‘The Player’s Revolt’ is about the differences Miandad faced with other players when he was captain. Infact at many a place in book, it is shameful for me to read how a cricketer loses his sportsmanship to fall greedy for captaincy and play politics in the dressing room. Miandad actually complains and reveals the backbiting (or you may say back-barking) and disorganized mismanagement under Pakistan Cricket Board. The color of nature and volume of his speaking tone over such matter is exactly how Shoaib Akhtar explained in his “Controversially Yours”.
Many cricket fans have been cornered towards the issue that lied between Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, many of them smelled some rift between them. Indeed there were some personal differences, but there is significantly one chapter dedicated to Imran and his leadership which is worth. On numerous places in book, the reading falls quite flat where the details are more of a match review and statistics. One deliberately will begin hunting to read something which is rare and unknown to him ahead of match reviews which do exist on websites and would make it boring.
Few of cricket fans do not know that Miandad had an interesting episode of his love marriage with his wife, Tahira, which after reading, you will find it quite filmy and quite different from the existing traditions of marriage in Pakistan. But this is sadly penned of couple of pages and I strictly believe should have been a whole chapter on it. The reader will surely realize could have been a worth-reading mostly for youngsters, had Miandad dedicated his love for his wife and wrote his marriage in details a separate chapter.
I must also clear a very important reminder as many many readers like me will found a major surprise of not reading a single word about his son’s marriage with daughter of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Like I said before, the book was published in 2003 as the marriage happened couple of years later.
As a reader, I don’t found the book as extreme superlative of autobiographic writing. Infact I will rate my previous cricket book reading Shoaib Akhtar’s Controversially Yours far better than this. But after all, a Miandad-story in Pakistan cricket should be of prestige as his book will be worth reading for cricket-crazy generations in any corner of library of your heart.
Till this date (8.8.13), Miandad is 13th in most test runs in career with 8832 runs. Has 6 double-hundreds in tests the most by any Pakistani player and 5th overall. His biggest achievement in his cricketing career is 1992 World Cup. That was the 5th edition of World Cup played in Australia and New Zealand for the first time in colorful kits. This was Miandad’s 5th attempt for the title where he was 2nd top-scorer in the whole tournament few runs behind Martin Crowe of New Zealand. To an utmost bizarre, Miandad was shockingly not selected in the world cup squad due to a minor injury which wasn’t even threatening. He was finally recalled after huge batting failure in warm-up games and the rest is history.
Miandad was the first player ever to reach 1000-runs mark in World Cup career and play six world cups. His test batting average never came down below 50 since his 1st test inning till the end which is quite a rare and unique test record which most probably no test batsman has ever accomplished in history. Till this date (8.8.13) he is the youngest test player to score a double-century for 35 years as no one has ever reached the mark in his teen-age. For 26 years, he is still holding record of most fifties in ODIs in cosecutive innings (9).
His autobiography ‘Cutting Edge’ was published in 2003, forwarded by the great Tony Grieg and co-authored by famous columnist of Cricinfo, Saad Shafqat. His memories knew no bound when he begins from the background where he belongs and speaks about his father who was majorly responsible for Karachi cricket by contributing a lot to KCCA (Karachi City Cricket Association). On father’s advice, he plays for Habib Bank and becomes the soul of their batting line. His batting phenomenon is witnessed by one of Pakistan cricket’s finest administrator, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, and predict him “Find of the Decade”.
‘Cutting Edge’ is comprised of 23 chapters but being a reader, I am terribly surprised to notice that only one chapter belongs to his memorable knock in Sharjah, but two chapters are acclimatizing account about his anger towards Imran’s inning declaration at his personal best score of 280 not out. This is Hyderabad test against India where Miandad is avoided to reach triple hundred or further break the-then test cricket record of highest individual score in test inning by Sir Gary Sobers which was 365 not out against Pakistan.
There are 3 different chapters dedicated to England, Australia and West Indies. English one is about his playing experience on English surface and more about his county career in Sussex and Glamorgan. Australia and West Indies one each separately speaks about their counters with Pakistan. Another chapter ‘The Player’s Revolt’ is about the differences Miandad faced with other players when he was captain. Infact at many a place in book, it is shameful for me to read how a cricketer loses his sportsmanship to fall greedy for captaincy and play politics in the dressing room. Miandad actually complains and reveals the backbiting (or you may say back-barking) and disorganized mismanagement under Pakistan Cricket Board. The color of nature and volume of his speaking tone over such matter is exactly how Shoaib Akhtar explained in his “Controversially Yours”.
Many cricket fans have been cornered towards the issue that lied between Imran Khan and Javed Miandad, many of them smelled some rift between them. Indeed there were some personal differences, but there is significantly one chapter dedicated to Imran and his leadership which is worth. On numerous places in book, the reading falls quite flat where the details are more of a match review and statistics. One deliberately will begin hunting to read something which is rare and unknown to him ahead of match reviews which do exist on websites and would make it boring.
Few of cricket fans do not know that Miandad had an interesting episode of his love marriage with his wife, Tahira, which after reading, you will find it quite filmy and quite different from the existing traditions of marriage in Pakistan. But this is sadly penned of couple of pages and I strictly believe should have been a whole chapter on it. The reader will surely realize could have been a worth-reading mostly for youngsters, had Miandad dedicated his love for his wife and wrote his marriage in details a separate chapter.
I must also clear a very important reminder as many many readers like me will found a major surprise of not reading a single word about his son’s marriage with daughter of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Like I said before, the book was published in 2003 as the marriage happened couple of years later.
As a reader, I don’t found the book as extreme superlative of autobiographic writing. Infact I will rate my previous cricket book reading Shoaib Akhtar’s Controversially Yours far better than this. But after all, a Miandad-story in Pakistan cricket should be of prestige as his book will be worth reading for cricket-crazy generations in any corner of library of your heart.
May 6, 2021
If there is one cricketing legend that has become part of the common man's folk lore, it is Javed Miandad. Indeed it can be argued that there were equally big names amongst contemporaries, like Imran Khan, or amongst seniors (Hanif Mohammed) or juniors (Inzimam, Wasim Akram), but there was hardly anybody who could fire the imagination of cricket fans like Miandad. As long as Miandad was on the crease in adverse situations that a miracle was just around the corner. No wonder I have not heard any popular songs in the name of any other cricketers, any other Pakistani sportsman for that matter, other than for the hero of Sharjah.
Saad Shafqat has done a commendable job of giving an articulate voice to a man who might have been the master of the playful onfield jibe, but lacked the intellectualness of, lets say an Oxford educated Imran to put his life story across to the reading public. Followers of Pakistan's cricket history, will find interesting versions on the different incidents (1992 Kiran More, famous Dennis Lillee test spat) from a man who refused to be badgered on field. People, looking for spicy name calling vis a vis the love-hate relationship with Imran Khan are likely to be a bit disappointed. For Miandad is no publicity loving Shoaib Akhter, and stuck to factual arguments in the chapter devoted to his frequent on and off field tussles with the Kaptaan. Not that he didnt have problem with other more junior captains like Wasim. Conversely , he had his own problems with player management whilst captain- his first tenure ending with a players rebellion. One can argue that he was too young and naive(as he himself admits in this autobiography). But Pakistan was lucky to have to him as the fallback option, whenever Imran Khan got unjured in the 80s. For few dispute his potential as one the best cricketing brains, and even Imran has admitted the value of his advice during tough games.
One of the most endearing aspect of Miandad's game was that he reserved the best for the worst (India, to Pakistani fans). He,Imran and Zaheer proved the nemesis of Indian teams, both home and away and ensured that the 80s, decade belonged firmly Pakistan in two teams one to one encounters. And who can forget the famous six at Sharjah, one which inspired unparalleled self belief in an other wise despairing nation. Javaid.... JAVAID Miandad.
Saad Shafqat has done a commendable job of giving an articulate voice to a man who might have been the master of the playful onfield jibe, but lacked the intellectualness of, lets say an Oxford educated Imran to put his life story across to the reading public. Followers of Pakistan's cricket history, will find interesting versions on the different incidents (1992 Kiran More, famous Dennis Lillee test spat) from a man who refused to be badgered on field. People, looking for spicy name calling vis a vis the love-hate relationship with Imran Khan are likely to be a bit disappointed. For Miandad is no publicity loving Shoaib Akhter, and stuck to factual arguments in the chapter devoted to his frequent on and off field tussles with the Kaptaan. Not that he didnt have problem with other more junior captains like Wasim. Conversely , he had his own problems with player management whilst captain- his first tenure ending with a players rebellion. One can argue that he was too young and naive(as he himself admits in this autobiography). But Pakistan was lucky to have to him as the fallback option, whenever Imran Khan got unjured in the 80s. For few dispute his potential as one the best cricketing brains, and even Imran has admitted the value of his advice during tough games.
One of the most endearing aspect of Miandad's game was that he reserved the best for the worst (India, to Pakistani fans). He,Imran and Zaheer proved the nemesis of Indian teams, both home and away and ensured that the 80s, decade belonged firmly Pakistan in two teams one to one encounters. And who can forget the famous six at Sharjah, one which inspired unparalleled self belief in an other wise despairing nation. Javaid.... JAVAID Miandad.
June 7, 2011
I don't know why I read it. If I remember correctly it was the only new book in that run down St. Thomas' library. Don't remember much, except, oh what a strange guy.
October 14, 2012
A riveting read. Full of interesting anecdotes, this is one book you would not want to put down. One cricketing biography that I reckon was fun to read from start to end. Best after Steve Waugh's Out of My Comfort Zone
December 1, 2012
Extremely interesting. It is well written and well organized, thanks to Saad Shafqat and it contains interesting bits about Miandad, thanks to interesting cricketing life of Miandad. For me most the highlight was the insight it gave into Miandad's mentality and how his brain worked.
January 10, 2013
Probably not written by Miandad himself. However, an intriguing and compelling read into Pakistani cricket from the late 70s to the mid 90s including his constant rivalry with his captain, Imran Khan.
August 26, 2007
What i learned is that if ur a pakistani cricketer no matter how good u r , u aint got no RESPECT
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews