"It’s never about how good you are, but how good your father was" : Bazid Khan
Bazid Khan, son of the great Majid and nephew of Imran, the present Prime Minister of Pakistan, spoke to The Telegraph on the disadvantages faced by sons of illustrious fathers.
Bazid, now 37, played one Test and five ODIs between 2004-2008.
Excerpts....
Q Both your father and grandfather (Dr Jahangir Khan) played Test cricket. Was that a disadvantage when you started off?
A In the subcontinent, if you enter the same profession as your father or brother or uncle, comparisons set in. Initially, allowances could be made and there may even be some sympathy, but once you start professionally, it becomes a different ball game. Then, it’s only about, say, how good your father was... Of course, my father was a great player and a better player than I. But it’s never about you, but your family connection... The lineage and so on. It’s never about how good you are, but how good your father was... What also gets drawn into comparisons is how your father led his professional life and how you are doing so. Bottom line: Comparisons and more comparisons. At times, it certainly gets to you.
Q Did that weigh you down?
A Not so much weigh me down, but it certainly added to the pressure. Every time I played, the first things to come up were comparisons with my father. It became hard to establish myself... Besides, owing to my family background, there was a certain amount of insecurity, with regard to captaincy... Straightaway, people start to think that if X does well, then because of his ancestry, he too will captain... My father and uncles (Javed Burki, Imran) have all captained Pakistan... That sort of welcome is no welcome at all for a youngster.
Q Is there the suspicion of nepotism?
A Sadly, yes. Especially in Pakistan. Even if the selection has been on perfectly good grounds, the mindset is such that the suspicion remains.
Q Quite a few sons have suffered...
A Shoaib Mohammed (the late Hanif's son) is somewhat of an exception, but Rohan Gavaskar isn’t... Look, unless the mindset changes, there’s no getting away from this.
Q Was it frustrating that you couldn’t realise your potential?
A The only disappointment I have is that I still don’t know how good I was at the International level. That’s because I wasn’t tested there for a length of time... That regret will always stay at the back of my mind, but one has to move on. You have to, at some point, get past that... I’m thankful that, at least, I got to the stage of representing Pakistan.
Q What did your father have to say about the extra pressure on your shoulders?
A My father was always supportive... It’s my mother, Seema, who hadn’t been keen. At least, not at the start. That’s because she had gone through a lot when my father was playing... I must add I’m the only one from Pakistan who scored a 50 in an ODI and never played again despite not getting banned or not announcing retirement after that innings. This unusual piece of statistics was only recently conveyed to me.
Q I assume you idolised your father...
A I did... I never saw him play for Pakistan, but I had the best coach in the house. I could go to my father at any time and he’d sort out the technical issues. Coaching was hardly known then in Pakistan, but I had a ready-made one. For free too!
Q How keenly does your father follow cricket now?
A Father is from the old school and, so, isn’t fond of T20 and certainly doesn’t watch any of the T20 Leagues... He still watches Test matches, but mostly when they’re being held in Australia or England. Father is pretty clued in, however.
Q At 71, just how active is your father?
A Father has his circle of friends and, having always been strong on fitness, the late afternoon/early evening walks in a neighbouring park in Islamabad are a must. Father hates it when, because of rain, he has to skip the walk.
Q How close are you to Imran?
A I wouldn’t say very, for Imran uncle got busy with the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital project immediately after the 1992 World Cup and, from 1996, he’s been heavily into politics. I’d meet him, for sure, but more at family weddings... Family dinners. I’m more close to my other uncle who captained Pakistan, Javed... Talking of Imran uncle, for me, the Hospitals are his biggest achievement.
Q One more... Did your father and you attend Imran’s swearing-in as the Prime Minister?
A I had a TV assignment in Ireland right then and father couldn’t go... My other uncles went... Let me tell you that my father has his views and when Imran uncle and he have exchanged thoughts, uncle has listened. Father is the elder one, after all.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/spor...-are-but-how-good-your-father-was/cid/1670344
