The nation mourned the tragic death of Huma Wasim – wife of our beloved cricketing legend, Wasim Akram and mother of his two young sons Akbar (12) and Taimur (8). Huma was laid to rest in Defence Housing Authority graveyard in Lahore on Monday, October 26, 2009 (over 1000 people attended the funeral prayers led by former batsmen Saeed Anwar).
There has been an outpouring of sorrow and tremendous expressions of solidarity across Pakistan for Wasim and his family. All major TV stations have paid moving tribute to Huma and are re-running her old interviews with Wasim. They show an elegant and spirited lady who was not at all in awe of her famous husband but an equal partner in every respect. A person with a mind of her own, who decided herself that staying at home to raise her children as good human beings and responsible citizens was more important than following Wasim around the world playing matches and later, after retirement, commentating during important cricketing events. Not the spotlight for her.
Huma was a highly educated lady and a professional hypnotherapist and psychologist. What most people didn’t know until her passing is that Huma not only helped Wasim in his mental approach to the game and often to unscramble his mind during crises, she also acted as a calming psychological influence on the entire team. And more importantly, she was a positive influence in grooming him for international success.
We hope and pray that Wasim and his sons can rationalise and live with this indescribable loss and, in the fullness of time, find peace of mind as well as fulfill his wife’s dream of bringing up their sons in the way that she wanted.
