8 Indian Cricketers who turned to Politics, check out the full list

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#5. Kirti Azad

Kirti Azad is an attacking cricketer by trait and interestingly, he was also a part of the Indian team that won the World Cup in 1983. However, he made a huge impact only in the political career and let’s find out. Following the footprints of his father Bhagwat Jha Azad the former Chief Minister of Bihar, Azad entered into politics and was elected to Parliament on a BJP ticket from Darbhanga, Bihar.

Presently, he is serving his third term in the Lok Sabha and previously he was an MLA from Delhi’s Gole Market constituency. He successfully won the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections from Darbhanga and on 23 December 2015, he got suspended from BJP for directly targeting Union finance minister Arun Jaitley over alleged irregularities and corruption in Delhi’s cricket body Delhi and District Cricket Association and then he joined the Indian National Congress on the 18th of February, 2019

#4. Mohammad Azharuddin

Azharuddin, the former Indian captain was one of the substantial batsmen for the team. However, he couldn’t continue his prowess for so long as his international career came to a controversial end when he was involved in the infamous match-fixing scandal in 2000 soon after which he was banned by the BCCI for life.

He didn’t remain tight-lipped about the case he fought for more than a decade. “It was a long drawn out legal case and it was painful. We fought in court for 11 years. Finally, the verdict has come and I am happy that the ban has been lifted by the court.

“I am not going to take any legal action against any authority and I don’t want to blame anybody for this also. Whatever had to happen has happened. I don’t have any complaint.”

Azharuddin then joined the Indian National Congress party on 19 February 2009. He then won the Indian general election, 2009 from UP’s Moradabad to become Member of Parliament of India. Mohammed Azharuddin also revealed his plans to contest 2019 elections from Secunderabad Parliamentary constituency in 2019 and at present, he is holding the position of Working President of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee.