Shahbaz Choudhry
“When I read a book, I don't just read it for the sake of reading. I try to take everything in and get the most out of it”, says Shahbaz Choudhry, the author of "The Book Of Pace". A Pace Journal publication which was released in December, 2020 in association with Tymal Mills. The Book of Pace deals with fast bowling on a subjective level and seeks to build a strong mindset of its readers on a universal level. Although it essentially grabs the attention of cricketers, it can inspire every hustler out there.
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The motif of the book:
The lockdown had undoubtedly rotten many minds and hearts keeping them caged in the four walls of the house. Still, there were others like Shahbaz Choudhry who made the most of this lockdown. Being frequently asked about his personal cricket story and the lessons that his experiences had taught him, Shahbaz decided to pen down his experiences in the form of a book.
In the beginning, Shahbaz was influenced by the thought of giving the book away for free as a PDF. But his team and his close friend, West Indies World Cup Winner, Carlos Brathwaite pointed out that the book has a lot of valuable information so it should be respected by offering it for a small fee. Tymal Mills who openly claims that he doesn’t read a lot of cricket books read, The Book of Pace and was also driven by the same thought.
Objectives of the book:
One may find a considerable amount of information available on the internet. But The Book of Pace is Different. Due to the access of too much information, more and more fast bowlers are getting confused. It becomes difficult to address the questions of what, when, how, and why. Shahbaz Choudhry says, “I believe that my story is an example of how information overload can stop your progress, instead of advancing it. I wanted the book to be a very real account of the things that helped me and the things that derailed me. This isn’t a book full of studies or theories. This is a book full of real life, tried and tested experiences which a lot of fast bowlers have either gone through or will go through in their career.” You can find an ocean of technical information and dive as deep as you want into it. But experience, wisdom, and realness are found rarely. This book holds three of the elements together.
Why does one need to read this book?
In his book, Shahbaz Choudhry doesn't make you fall for false hopes and dreams. Instead, he promises to protect fast bowlers from the pitfalls that come with the game. The book will make the novices aware of the sufferings and render the solutions. It will also resemble and reflect the sufferings of the experienced ones letting them know that they weren’t and aren’t alone. Thus, it acts as a guide for the novices and unites in spirit all those who ever suffered.
A short glimpse:
The chapter, “Art & Science of Fast Bowling” has received an exceptional amount of positive feedback from international fast bowlers who relate to the concept that Shahbaz describes. The book's content also grabbed the attention of a Director of Cricket for one of the IPL franchises who requested a copy of the book.
The Book of Pace bequeaths the most productive information which has resulted in its unprecedented success.