Picture Credit: Twitter
There is little doubt that cricket is the most followed sport in the South Asian region. Not only in India but even countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal have a huge cricket fan base and a number of youngsters from all these countries do look up to the game as a viable career option with a few heroes from the region as well as from around the world to look up to.
Pakistan's Imran Khan is definitely one of those who have inspired an entire generation of cricketers to take up the sport of cricket. It wouldn't be wrong to simply rate him one of the best cricketers to have represented Pakistan at the highest level of cricket. In 88 Tests, Khan scored 3807 with the highest score of 37.69 and that wasn't his primary trade. With the ball in hand, Khan inspired many to bowl fast as he tasted success with 362 Test wickets at an average of 22.81.
In addition, he chipped in with 182 wickets in 175 ODIs along with 3709 runs with the highest score of 102* and an average of 33.41. Most famously, Khan led Pakistan to a World Cup win in 1992. However, years after he hung up his cricketing boots, Khan has ventured into active politics and even went on to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The cricketer turned politician in an attack on the Opposition parties who accused him of mismanaging the economy, said that he did not become the Prime Minister to check prices of "aloo, tamatar." He mentioned that he had joined politics for the sake of the country's youth, saying that he has no personal gains from it as he had already achieved everything.
"I didn't join politics to know the prices of 'aloo and tamatar' (potatoes and tomatoes). I joined it for the sake of the country's youth", the 69-year-old said.
"If we want to become a great nation, we will have to support the truth, and this is what I have been preaching for the last 25 years," he added.
It is pertinent to note that Khan became the PM in 2018 and the next general elections in Pakistan are set to be held next year.