Imran Khan, captain of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup winning team, had a very successful career in cricket. He is still considered one of the best players Pakistan has ever produced. The popular sportsman is now poised to begin a new innings.
Imran Khan has added another achievement to his career graph after guiding his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (Movement for Justice) to victory in the Pakistan elections 2018. Though his party, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), is likely to fall short of an overall majority, Imran is set to become the next Prime Minister of Pakistan as he is confident of stitching together a coalition government led by him.
However, Imran Khan is not the only cricketer who has chosen politics after bidding adieu to the game.
We look at 5 cricketers who turned politicians:
Imran Khan – Pakistan
Imran Khan made his debut in international cricket in 1974 against England at Nottingham and announced his retirement from international cricket on March 25, 1992, after guiding Pakistan to a World Cup victory the same year.
Imran Khan had played 175 One Day International (ODI) matches and bagged 182 wickets with an economy rate of 3.89. Imran had represented Pakistan in 88 Test matches and took 362 wickets with an economy rate of 2.54.
Imran Khan founded a political party named Tehreek-e-Insaaf in 1996. However, the party no success in initial days as Khan won only one seat in the 2002 Pakistan general elections. PTI boycott the next election in 2008 but emerged the third largest political party in 2013 elections.
Sanath Jayasuriya – Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan batting legend Sanath Jayasuriya was considered one of the best batsmen of his time. Jayasuriya made his debut in international cricket on 26 December 1989 in an ODI match against Australia at Melbourne. After two years, he made his Test debut against New Zealand at Hamilton in 1991.
Sanath Jayasuriya played 445 ODI matches and score 13430 runs with a strike rate of 91.20. In 110 Test matches, Jayasuriya scored 6937 runs with an average rate of 40.07. he played his last ODI match in 2011 at the Oval against England.
Interestingly, Jayasuriya was elected as the Member of Parliament in 2010, while he was still repressing his country in ODI cricket. The 49-year-old former Sri Lankan cricketer represented Matara district and then served as Deputy Union Minister of Postal Services. Jayasuriya also became Deputy Union Minister of Local Government & Rural Development.
However, Jayasuriya did not contest in 2015 Sri Lankan general elections despite winning the most votes from Matara district under UPFA in the 2010 elections.
Kirti Azad – India
Kirti Azad played for India from 1980 to 1986. Azad made his international debut against Australia in an ODI match at Melbourne and played his last match at Sharjah against Pakistan in 1986. Kirti played 25 ODI matches and seven Test matches in his 6 years cricketing career and scored 29 and 135 runs respectively.
Son of former Bihar chief minister Bhagwat Jha Azad, Kirti was also part of the Indian squad that won 1983 World Cup under the leadership of Kapil Dev.
Kirti, later on, followed in his father’s footsteps and was elected to Parliament on a BJP ticket from Darbhanga, Bihar. Azad is currently serving his third term in the Lok Sabha.
Arjuna Ranatunga – Sri Lanka
Arjuna Ranatunga is one of the most celebrated Sri Lankan cricketers. Ranatunga, who played 93 Tests and 269 ODIs, guided Sri Lanka to the 1996 World Cup win.
Ranatunga enjoyed a career that spanned around 18 years, having made his debut in international cricket on Feb 14, 1982, against England at Colombo. He played his last match in 2001, against South Africa at the same ground.
After his retirement, the southpaw decided to try his luck in politics by joining the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Arjuna contested the 2001 parliamentary elections from Colombo district and after 2004 UPFA victory, he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Promotion.
Navjot Singh Sidhu – India
Navjot Singh Sidhu is known for his aggressive batting style as well for his hearty laughter. Sidhu is also popular for his commentary, his followers have branded his comments as “Siddhuism”.
Sidhu represented India in 51 Tests and 134 ODI matches. He made his debut in international cricket in 1983. Sindhu joined Bharatiya Janata Party in 2004. Sidhu won Lok Sabha elections twice and joined the Congress ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections.