There have been numerous instances of cricketers joining politics after calling time on their careers. They bring with them a respected standing and goodwill amongst the public and are often welcomed into the political arena. While some of these figures hold influential positions in government, only a select few have been able to ascend to the highest office of their home nation. Five such cricketers later became Prime Ministers of their respective countries.
#1 Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Sir Alec Douglas-Home, a talented cricketer who played for Middlesex and Oxford University, was a British Conservative politician who became Prime Minister of the UK from October 1963 to October 1964. His unmatched understanding of economics and foreign policy enabled him to defeat his formidable opponent Harold Hilson in the elections of October 1963, thus earning himself the title of Lord Dunglass and the right to lead the country.
#2 Francis Bell
In New Zealand in the late 1800s, Sir Francis Bell was the first and only Prime Minister born on the island. He served a mere three weeks from May 10th to 30th of 1925 while being an accomplished cricketer in his teens. Representing Wellington in two first-class matches, although he never took his talents to the national level, he eventually retired from the sport and began his pursuit of politics, leading him to the Prime Minister’s office.
#3 Kamisese Mara
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara is the founding father of Fiji, a Pacific Island nation. As its Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992 and President from 1993 to 2000, he led the nation during critical developmental years. During Fiji’s 1953/54 tour of New Zealand, Mara also succeeded as a cricketer, appearing in two first-class matches for Fiji against Otago and Canterbury. However, a right arm injury during the match against Canterbury put a premature end to his promising career while batting on 44 not out.
#4 Imran Khan
Imran Khan, a former cricketer and current politician, spent 22 years devoted to fulfilling his dream of becoming Pakistan’s Prime Minister. His efforts paid off as he was the country’s national team captain during their victorious campaign in the 1992 World Cup, making him one of the nation’s most celebrated cricketers ever.
#5 Nawaz Sharif
Imran Khan may be the Pakistani World Cup-winning captain, but he’s not the only cricketer to pursue a successful political career in the country. Interestingly, his rival, Nawaz Sharif, was also an accomplished local cricket player and even participated in a single first-class game.