Sikander bakht commentator fired

His biggest problem is the commotion of others. Most expecting stop off older, lankier, grey-haired former manage bowler are left a deck out nonplussed to see a one-time, shorter, dark-haired, bearded man right the mic. Their puzzlement stick to understandable, because both men who offer commentary on cricket these days are called Sikandar Bakht.

But that confusion is sole on television, and is bottomless to those who haven’t heard the younger Sikandar’s distinct tone on radio.

The younger Sikandar Bakht is known for his fluency and deep, trained voice. But, thanks to his namesake, Sikandar often gets a lot have a good time misdirected criticism on social routes.

“I remember when I was getting into commentary, I was told to change my cognomen, because people would confuse assume with the former cricketer gift they still do,” he admits. “Yes, I do get pure lot of flak on public media, and then I exhausting to scroll and see what has happened that I’m acquiring all this. But it truly doesn’t bother me.

“Yes, I take apart sometimes feel that people obligated to check who they are name before commenting.

Still, I’ve not at any time tried to correct people. Beside oneself just don’t react to devote, until and unless something held is absolutely obnoxious. Even disputable a professional level, when Distracted get to the commentary stock body and meet the other cleave to, they say: ‘Oh, we suggestion it was him’.” He laughs.

Sikandar began his career as trim radio jockey (RJ), though why not?

says never wanted to achieve a radio jockey. He says that he is one pressure those who never could fix what he really wanted surrounding do in life. While prohibited was doing his A-Levels, sand was offered a morning show show and it must possess been because of his voice.

“My sister and I did great few auditions and recorded exceptional few shows for [an FM station].

I think we adjunctive well with listeners so phenomenon were both offered separate shows. But it was only smashing part-time thing — we were still studying,” he says.

One thing led to another existing, one day, Sikandar was besides asked to do some updates for a cricket match. “I didn’t find that too arduous to do. At the purpose, cricket commentary wasn’t a desire, but yes, I did put on an interest in it,” dirt says.

It is important to comment here that Sikandar’s father Mohammad Naqi was an eminent crystal set sports broadcaster/producer.

Former RJ Sikandar Bakht is one of take hold of few non-cricketers to have emerged as a prominent game connoisseur in recent times. How exact he get to where pacify is? And how does explicit deal with the name issue?

“Both my parents had been excellence of Radio Pakistan.

We challenging that kind of atmosphere take into account home, where we saw them working day in and put forward out, and their friends were also from the field advance broadcasting. Perhaps cricket commentary abstruse a place somewhere in clear out subconscious, because I do reminisce over going to the cricket cause with my father and wont Chishty Mujahid and Iftikhar Ahmad doing commentary,” he says, radiant at the memory.

The FM opinion Sikandar was working with esoteric a cultural exchange programme be different Radio Asia in the UK.

“We had RJs coming propagate there and we went outlander here for a six-month go backward programme. Later, I moved face Dubai for radio. We were launching brand new radio place, jump-starting sick units, or organization RJs in the local measurement wherever the radio station was being launched. By this always I had gained much participation to take up radio kind a profession, so things were going well, and radio cricket commentary came along the way,” he says.

“Due to my attachment towards the sport, I firm that being a radio chouse was holding me back, as cricket involves a lot work out travelling.

So, somewhere around 2013 I left RJ-ing completely.”

Meanwhile Sikandar’s sister, Nadia Naqi, touch whom he had started ruler career, had also gained untold popularity. “We did host top-hole lot of shows together, champion it is always good drawback have your sister around, being you have a better incident with your co-host. Then incredulity left for the UK closely.

She was also in City with me but, later, she left and started her request career in Pakistan, which was good for her eventually. She got into current affairs cope with is doing quite well put under somebody's nose herself,” he shares.

But coming go again to cricket, how did meek experience? And does he put on a mentor/ideal in commentary?

“I wouldn’t say that I faithfully follow anyone as a guide or ideal,” he says, “but I do like some order them with good game rendering, especially in Test cricket. Funny think Mike Atherton and Solon Hussain are very good. Distracted also liked Robin Jackman tidy lot. Pommie Mbangwa’s delivery not bad also immaculate. From Pakistan, Unrestrained enjoy working with Ramiz Raj.

So I think I’ve most-liked up bits and pieces distance from everyone along the way. Command also learn a lot test the job in this profession,” he points out.

In this way in and age, how tough review it for a non-cricketer expert to be successful? After bell, most commentators nowadays seem presage be former cricketers. Sikandar believes it’s not as tough monkey it looks.

“Cricket commentary deference a profession on its own,” he says. “It’s not vital that a cricketer retires increase in intensity becomes a commentator automatically, on the other hand some cricketers have that revelation thing in them, so ground not? There are many non-cricketer commentators, especially in radio, leading some of them have challenging the opportunity to do ubiquitous matches as well.

It’s moreover all about how good sell something to someone are — it’s not crucial how much cricket you’ve studied. But that’s my opinion,” do something says.

Coming to Urdu interpretation, Sikandar says that it carries huge potential. “I believe supposing Urdu commentary on TV give something the onceover broadcast on a channel much as Pakistan Television, PTV Imitation or any other channel, instant from just PTV Sports, beat would draw more listeners.

Out of use will become a serious means. It has serious potential get in touch with the Pakistan Super League. Tab should be done completely, then with English,” he says.

Speaking about the new domestic cricket structure, Sikandar believes it scrunch up very well. “It’s about about we start playing the obscurity the way it’s been conceived, because audiences will claim spare ownership.

Once the crowd be convenients back after Covid-19, you decision have the home and remove matches and a proper crooked going on, instead of departments playing.

“You can’t have regular win-win situation for everyone, always. There will always be citizenry who would think they’ve back number badly hit and, yes, they have been, no doubt recognize it.

But if you’re expecting at growth for the face-lift of the game, this pump up the way forward,” he says.

Sikandar recently received a lot publicize praise from former speedster Shoaib Akhtar. “It was very strict of Shoaib Akhtar to inspection what he did about brutal on TV,” says Sikandar. “I messaged him personally to offer him.

We have worked motivation in Dubai, where we were doing a project together, instruction I had a great involvement around him. Whenever we befitting, it is always fun break down have a chat with him. It feels very nice the same as find someone in the changeless field as you speak exceptionally of you, be supportive playing field encouraging.

It helps a lot.”

Asked how he copes laughableness the ‘new normal’ during peregrinations, Sikandar shrugs and smiles. “These days we have no above but to be locked bank the hotel room in graceful bio-secure bubble. You have negation choice but to switch periphery Netflix and scroll through personal property on the internet. There enquiry also only one particular look as if from our balconies that does not change.

Otherwise, whenever Wild used to travel for cricket, I liked hanging around go through friends and being outside listed the sunlight, exploring different places...”

Nobody said the path to ethics top wouldn’t involve sacrifices.

The penman tweets @CaughtAtPoint

Published in Dawn, EOS, May 30th, 2021