Yusuf Pathan joins long list of cricketers in politics, to contest from Bengal's Berhampore seat for TMC; Here's the full list
Yusuf Pathan, the former Indian cricketer who played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for India between September 2007 and March 2012, has ventured into politics. He has been named as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from West Bengal's Berhampore seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Pathan, 42, is expected to face Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a vocal critic of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who has held the seat since 1999.
Cricket to Politics: Pathan's Political Journey
Hailing from Gujarat's Vadodara, Pathan is renowned for his cricketing career, particularly with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He joins a list of Indian cricketers who have transitioned into politics, including Gautam Gambhir, Kirti Azad, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Manoj Tiwary, Mohammed Azharuddin, and Chetan Chauhan, among others.
A Legacy of Cricketers Turned Politicians
Gautam Gambhir, a sitting parliamentarian from East Delhi, and Kirti Azad, who has been fielded from Durgapur by TMC, are among the notable names. Navjot Singh Sidhu, an ex-BJP leader active in Punjab politics, and Manoj Tiwary, a sitting legislator from West Bengal's Shibpur assembly segment, have also made their mark in politics.
Contributions to Cricket and Politics
Mohammed Azharuddin, the former India captain turned MP, and Chetan Chauhan, who was a minister in the BJP's Uttar Pradesh government, have also left their imprint. Sachin Tendulkar, a Rajya Sabha member from 2012 to 2018, and other cricketers like Sreesanth, Ashok Dinda, Mohammed
