Book description
The definitive biography of Imran Khan, the former Pakistan cricket
captain and all-rounder - the Oxbridge graduate and vociferous
campaigner; the devout Muslim whose kaleidoscopic social life flooded
the gossip columns; the man who raised million for cancer research and
who is now one of the most important political figures in Pakistan.
On one thing, Imran Khan's friends and enemies agree: it all began with
the leopard print satin trousers. In November 1974, the Cricketer
International published an article about the new elite group of young
talented players, 'into concepts like fashion and pop music', and bent
on challenging cricket's eternal stereotypes. Of the five featured stars
on the cover, a superbly hirsute 21-year-old wearing a tight black shirt
and gaudy trousers, with a facial expression of supreme self-confidence,
stood out.
Imran Khan has always been a controversial figure, a man who gives rise
to hot debate on account of his strong conviction and hard line views.
From his achievements on the cricket field as the Pakistan captain who
captured the World Cup and the game's best all-rounder in history,
through to his racy social life - the practising Muslim boogieing on the
dancefloor of Annabel's, 'an astonishing lovemaker', according to one
overnight partner, praised by Diana Princess of Wales, close friend to
his then wife Jemima Goldsmith, as a 'devoted husband' - the Imran story
is full of colour and contradictions.
Acclaimed biographer Christopher Sandford has approached a richly
varied cast list of Imran associates past and present - from Geoff
Boycott, Javed Miandad, Mike Brearley, David Gower and John Major
through to Nelson Mandela and close acquaintances male and female such
as Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, John Major, Keith Richards, sources close
to the late Princess of Wales and Pakistan's General Musharraf. Imran
Khan himself has agreed to be interviewed for the book and given
Sandford exclusive access to his inner sanctum. 'Imran Khan is the
ultimate crossover celebrity' New York Times
'Imran deserves recognition for his outstanding personal contribution
to the practical welfare of millions of people, not only in Pakistan but
around the world' 2006 Nobel Peace Prize judges Christopher Sandford
has been a professional writer for 29 years. A regular contributor to
the Cricketer International in the eighties, he has written biographies
of English cricket legends Godfrey Evans and Tom Graveney, as well as
biographies of Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Keith
Richards, Steve McQueen, Paul McCartney and, most recently, Roman
Polanski. His articles have appeared in among others The Times, Daily
Telegraph, The Spectator, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair and the New York
Times. He divides his time between Seattle and England.
About the author's work:
On Paul McCartney: 'Simply dazzling' Daily Mail
On Roman Polanski: 'In this fine book, Sandford is fair to the man and
his work. Recommended' Washington Post
