From cricket player to Pakistan leader: Imran Khan's journey to glory through Sharjah



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Dubai: Imran Khan, who is expected to become the first international cricket player to become prime minister, has honed his skills as a Sharjah Cricket Stadium leader. I had the chance to tell his matches in the 1980s and 1990s in Sharjah, and I also spoke to him several times, even after becoming a politician, during his visits to Dubai and Pakistan. And every time I was amazed at his leadership traits.

The cloakroom at the Sharjah stadium, during the Cricket Performance Fund Series, was next to the press box, and you could see its charismatic leadership what fans could see on their television screen. No matter who would have liked to have the aura that he had as a cricketer and so it is not surprising that many have continued to idolize him. In my first meeting with peacekeepers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, both had noticed that they were idolizing Imran as their hero. But Imran was not a fair hero for those two; he inspired a generation of great allrounders, especially pacers.

File Image: Then the Pakistani Cricketer Imran Khan in action. Javed Nawab / Gulf News Archives

The positive vibrations that he propagated within the team while on the field were remarkable. He made everyone believe that they were conquering their opponents, and he also paved the way for his performance with the bat and the ball. It's the same confidence that he has managed to generate among the masses and to make them believe that he will be able to defeat the problems in Pakistan.

Imran hates to be rebuffed because he believes that he is supposed to be a winner. In cricket, any team that was trying to pull him down felt the weight of his killer instinct. It must be this same killer instinct that has given him the patience to persist for 22 years to ensure his party's victory in the elections.

File Picture: Then Pakistani huntsman Imran Khan plays at the Rothmans Challenge Cricket Tournament at Sharjah Stadium. Javed Nawab / Gulf News Archives

On his first international day at Sharjah Stadium on March 22, 1985 at the Four Nations Rothmans Cup against India, his fate of 6 for 14 runs of his ten overs was one of the best displays of impeccable pace bowling. His ability to move the ball and uproot the stumps was a pleasure to watch. Imran was also an incarnation of how one should behave as a cricketer. The way he walked and ran up to the bowl, and this smooth bowling action made cricket graceful.

Imran was also an off-field player. Post his cricketing days, he could have become anything – a cricket commentator or even a Hollywood actor! Her charming looks made the women pale. He was not fighting for a top job at the Pakistan Cricket Board, but he had his eyes far away. It is likely that he could reshape cricket in Pakistan since he owes a lot to the game that played a big role in becoming the country's leader. To be the captain of Pakistan's cricket team, people now see Imran as the captain of their nation.

File Image: Then captain of the Pakistani team Imran Khan reading the Gulf News newspaper during their match in Sharjah. Javed Nawab / Gulf News Archives

When he was captain of Pakistan at the 1992 World Cup, he was able to raise the profile of his country. Now he will look forward to raising the profile of his country as prime minister. Leading a squad of 15 people is very different from the leadership of an entire nation, and Imran knows that the challenge is gigantic.

In one of his interviews he had already said: "Compromise for your dream but never compromise your dream." now he has had a dream of success.

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