International cricket captains Who Turn Politicians Post-Retirement
Imran Khan (Pakistan)
Imran Khan is arguably the most successful and inspirational leader to have emerged from the cricket world.
The former Pakistan skipper led his team to their biggest triumph in the 1992 Cricket World Cup winning team.
Imran Khan turned into a politician post-retirement. With his keen interest in politics, he started his own party named Pakistan Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf.
After working selflessly for the people of Pakistan for 18 years, he was honored as the President of Pakistan in 2018.
He is now one of the most influential figures in Pakistani politics.
Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka)
Arjuna Ranatunga had a successful career as Sri Lanka’s captain and was also part of the 1996 World Cup-winning squad for Sri Lanka.
He is the second most famous politician among all the International cricket captains Who Turn Politicians Post-Retirement.
After his retirement from cricket, he joined the Sri Lankan Freedom Party and even held several ministerial posts in the Sri Lankan Government.
Arjuna Ranatunga was appointed as the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation from 2015-2017.
Previously he has been a Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka since 2001.
Mohammad Azharuddin (India)
India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin led the Indian team to many victories.
After his retirement, he joined the Indian National Congress and contested for a seat in the Moradabad constituency.
After being elected to represent Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad constituency in 2009, he won the Parliamentary Election on Indian National Congress Ticket.
Azharuddin was a member of the parliament of India from 2009 – 2014.
Sir Frank Worrell (West Indies)
The three times Jamaican Senator, Sir Frank Mortimer Magline Worell is the first black man to captain the West Indies Cricket team in Tests.
His style of batting mesmerizes the crowd in the park. Sir Frank Worrell is one of the most successful captains and has played 51 tests with an average of 49.48.
Sir Frank Worrell is the proper gentleman among the International cricket captains Who Turn Politicians Post-Retirement
He believed in his principle of enjoying the game and playing remarkable cricket. Under his captaincy, West Indies achieved enormous heights and was even considered the most fun-loving side.
With being one of the greatest West Indian captains of all time, he also served the nation in the Jamaican Senate.
Frank Worrell was named Jamaican Senator by Sir Alexander Bustamante and continued being the Senator three times.
Kapil Dev (India)
Former India captain Kapil Dev is another cricketer who made a successful transition into politics post-retirement.
Kapil Dev has always been a great leader in the cricket field but his leadership faded in politics. He served as the Chairman of NCP (National Cricket Players).
In 2004, he joined BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and contested for an MP seat from North Delhi but lost that election as well.
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (India)
Indian cricket has seen a few cricketers take up politics after retirement. The youngest ever Test cricketer, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, made his India debut at the age of 16 and scored a century on his Class debut.
He is the ‘The Nawab of Pataudi’ and is the first to join politics post-retirement.
In 1971, he joined Lok Dal in UP and later became an MP from Bhopal in 1980.
His brother Iftekhar Ali Khan Pataudi also joined politics after retirement from cricket.
He contested for an MP seat in 1998 but lost that election. He was the first cricketer to make a transition from playing days to the political arena.
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi pursued the political path for a short span which ended in a flash and further never entered politics after a marginal loss from BJP.
