Wounded Tiger: A History of Cricket in Pakistan - Hardcover

'The most complete, best researched, roses-and-thorns history of cricket in Pakistan' Independent

'It makes for a rich, fascinating and sometimes surprising read... carefully researched and meticulously constructed narrative' Sunday Telegraph

'Intelligent, detailed and highly affectionate history of the Pakistani game' Observer

'Part history, part commentary, the book is, above all, an ode to a sport and a nation for which the author has obvious affection...You turn the final pages of this meticulously researched and sympathetic book with a renewed sense of wonder both at cricket and the way it has helped to shape a nation.' Times

'For anyone wanting to understand the complexities of Pakistan cricket or to relive its many days of glory, this is as good as it s likely to get...Oborne interviewed dozens of Pakistani players, coaches, administrators and commentators, and sometimes put himself in physical danger to get at the truth' Guardian

'Peter Oborne's ambitious history of Pakistani Cricket, Wounded Tiger, has been eagerly awaited. It does not disappoint. This is a monumental telling of one of sport s great stories, based on thorough, sometimes ground-breaking research. It deserve a place in every cricket library and beyond' Economist

'Not only does Oborne provide the reality behind the myths and conspiracies, but does justice to a long misunderstood cricketing tradition. Wounded Tiger, much like its subject, has something for everyone.' Huffington Post

'Splendidly eccentric' Daily Mail

'an excellent and entertaining account of how cricket can mirror the fate of nations. Oborne strikes a sympathetic tone: he is generous with praise and the book benefits from a sophisticated retelling of key matches, visits to Pakistan and first-hand interviews' World Today Magazine

'Wounded Tiger combines the thoroughness of a historical reference book with the elegance of a novel...this is a remarkable feat of journalism and enthusiasm'

'Peter Oborne has written a mighty history of Pakistan cricket...The book has the status of a secular bible over here and no wonder' News story by Roger Alton, The Spectator

'A compelling, superbly researched history of cricket in Pakistan - a territory into which few others have ventured. Too many cricket books are ephemeral but this one is destined to last' --New Statesman

The nation of Pakistan was born out of the trauma of Partition from India in 1947. Its cricket team evolved in the chaotic aftermath. Initially unrecognised, underfunded and weak, Pakistan's team grew to become a major force in world cricket. Since the early days of the Raj, cricket has been entwined with national identity and Pakistan's successes helped to define its status in the world. Defiant in defence, irresistible in attack, players such as A.H.Kardar, Fazal Mahmood, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan awed their contemporaries and inspired their successors. The story of Pakistan cricket is filled with triumph and tragedy. In recent years, it has been threatened by the same problems affecting Pakistan itself: fallout from the 'war on terror', sectarian violence, corruption, crises in health and education, and a shortage of effective leaders. For twenty years, Pakistan cricket has been stained by the scandalous behaviour of the players involved in match-fixing. Since 2009, the fear of violence has driven Pakistan's international cricket into exile. No one knows when it will return home. But Peter Oborne's narrative is also full of hope. For all its troubles, cricket gives all Pakistanis a chance to excel and express themselves, a sense of identity and a cause for pride in their country. Packed with first-hand recollections, and digging deep into political, social and cultural history, Wounded Tigeris a major study of sport and nationhood.