Imran Khan: From the Cricket Legend to Prime Minister of Pakistan

The New Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, once a cricket legend was born on 5^th October, 1952. His full name is Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi. Currently, Imran Khan is the chairman of the Pakistani party Tehreek-e-Insaf. He was born to a Pashtun family of Lahore, Punjab. He initially started his education from Aitchison, Worcester. He further moved on to study at Keble College, Oxford. Khan began his cricketing career right from the age of 13. Khan initially started playing for his college at the Worcestershire Cricket Club and then further evolved to Pakistan national cricket team. Khan made his national debut in 1971 at the age of 18 against England at the match in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Early Life

There is controversy regarding the birthdate of Imran Khan. Some claim his birthdate to be 5^th October while others claim the date to be 25^th November, 1952. Nevertheless, later on it got clarified that the mention of 25^th November was a mistake done by the officials of Pakistan Cricket board. His father was a civil engineer, Ikramullah Khan Niazi while his mother was a housewife Shaukat Khanum. They were settled in Mianwali, Northwestern Punjab and belonged to the Niazi tribe.

Imran Khan was a quite and shy boy during his childhood days. He belonged to an affluent family with his four sisters and received formal privileged education. In England, he studied at Royal Grammar School Worcester. In Keble College, he studied the topics of Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He graduated with honors from there in 1975.

Cricket Career

Khan started his cricket career at the mere age of thirteen. Initially, he played for his club and then moved to play for Pakistani National Cricket Team. He made his home debut from Pakistan in 1976 and continued to play with 1992.

Imran Khan was the captain of the Pakistani Cricket team from 1982-1992. Khan successfully led the Pakistani cricket team to the victory of World Cup of 1992.

Although Khan took a retirement from cricket in 1992 from Cricket. He is one of the most famous cricketers worldwide. He is still referred to as ‘Kaptaan’ in Pakistan. Overall, he has cored about 3807 runs and took 362 crickets in the Test cricket match. He is one of the prominent cricketers among the eight all-rounders in the Test match. In 2010, he was included into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Campaigns

Not only was Imran Khan great cricketer but also a great human. He launched a campaign in 1991, for fundraising so as to build up a cancer hospital. It was set-up in the memory of his mother. He was able to raise $25 million and built up a hospital in Lahore in 1994. Again, he set up another cancer hospital in 2015 at Peshawar. Khan is still an important commenter and philanthropist. He also worked as a chancellor in Bradford University from 2005 to 2014. Back in 2012, he was also an important recipient for the honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians.

Political career

Back in April 1996, Khan established the Pakistan Tehreekh-e-Insaf and is one of the most important political leaders of Pakistan. He also took part in a competition in the National Assembly back in 2002. He remained an opposition for the political party Mianwali till 2007. He again took part in the 2013 elections. In 2013, his party soon emerged to be the important political party when it became the second most popular party around Pakistan. Khan is basically the parliamentary leader of the party and is the third largest block of parliamentarians of the National Assembly ranging from 2013 to 2018.

Elections campaigns 2018

Imran Khan took part in the general elections from Bannu, Islamabad, Karachi East, Mianwali-I and Lahore-IX. The results were finally declared on July 27, with Khan’s party winning over 110 seats out of 269. Khan beat Bhutto and became the first person to have contested all the elections and win all the five constituencies.

Khan one of the most famous political figures of Pakistan and author of several publications including Pakistan: A Personal History.