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Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, having rattled many batsmen around the world with his left-arm pace bowling, has reached Colombo to bat and bowl for the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre which has planned a week long awareness programme about diabetes.

Wasim who retired in 2003 after the last World Cup will be appearing in a number of programmes organised by the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, as part of their campaign to raise awareness about the disease which afflicts every one in seven Sri Lankans.

Wasim himself was diagnosed with the disease at the height of his cricketing prowess in 1997 but has since then by following a strict regimen and programme lived a normal and healthy life although once or twice he has been hospitalised after his sugar levels dropped alarmingly due to exhaustion on the field.

“I have been a diabetes patient for so long now I feel it is my duty to help raise awareness about how dangerous and fatal a disease it can be since it is such a silent killer. The reason why diabetes is so dangerous is because there is hardly any pain.

“There is a misconception that diabetics get tired very easily. But I have proved all that wrong. After being diagnosed with diabetes I played for eight years and managed to keep the blood sugar level always under control consistently. I can safely say people with diabetes can lead healthy lives with proper lifestyle management,” Wasim said.

The former skipper said he was happy that people could portray him as an example to their friends and countrymen that diabetics can lead a healthy life.

Wasim is scheduled to participate in day-long programme of activities on Sunday (tomorrow) aiming to create better awareness about the seriousness of diabetes among the people including a “diabetes walk” which covers most of Colombo.

Asked about the performances of the Pakistan team in recent matches, Wasim said he would only say that he was happy to see them winning a one-day series in Sri Lanka after 12 years.

“It is good to see the team bounce back so quickly after the one-day series loss to India. This team can further improve under Inzamam and it is a good move to appoint a bowling coach and have someone like Zaheer Abbas as manager now.”

Source: The News

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