Afridi hits at a political future (Source: @furqan_ashfaq77/x.com)
Shahid Afridi, one of Pakistan cricket’s brightest stars, often shines on and off the field, but not always for the right reasons. After he moved to Islamabad, there was speculation regarding his entry into politics.
As the buzz grew stranger, Shahid Afridi cleared the air on this. The former cricket star hinted that he could be seen in Pakistani politics in the future.
Shahid Afridi opens up about his possible political future
The bond between cricket and the silver screen has always fascinated fans, but some players take a completely different path after leaving the pitch. While many stayed connected with the game after retirement, some started a new innings in politics. Where the examples are not large in numbers, Pakistan cricket has plenty of it.
In Pakistani cricket, Shahid Afridi is a legend who carved his legacy with his own brilliance. But sometimes, he grabbed the headlines for some other reasons, just as his shifting has grabbed attention. Afridi has spent a long time in Karachi, and after he recently shifted his residence to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
The move set off a storm of speculation, with many linking it to Shahid Afridi’s potential new innings in politics. As the speculation went higher, the Pakistani legend put the buzz to rest. Speaking to the Jung Newspaper, Afridi made it clear that joining politics could be on the cards in the future.
“I want to see Pakistan prosper and I think that is only possible if a government and other important institutions are allowed to complete their constitutional terms,” he said.
“Pakistan and Pakistan cricket has given me everything, fame, wealth and I would definitely like to do something for my country,” he added.
Shahid Afridi turned down political offer before
The talk of Shahid Afridi joining politics isn’t new; rumours have been swirling for years. His controversial comments on heated geopolitical issues only added fuel to the fire. Recently, while speaking about this, he said he was offered political roles before, but he turned them down.
According to him, he didn’t want to simply occupy a position; he aimed to make a real difference in shaping the country’s future. Apart from the possible political life of the leader, Pakistan cricket got a legend in him.
Throughout his cricketing career, he has delivered some outstanding performances. In his captaincy, Pakistan carved out some iconic milestones in their cricketing record books.
Pakistan has witnessed cricketers take charge in politics
Pakistani cricketers joining politics is not new, as the world already saw Imran Khan as the Prime Minister of the country. The 1992 World Cup-winning captain formed his own party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and later on hold country’s most respected position.
It's not just him, Sarfaraz Nawaz has also joined politics after calling quit in cricket. Adding to this, Rashid Latif has also been a part of politics. The list goes on, with several other Pakistani cricketers swapping the pitch for politics, proving the game’s influence goes far beyond the boundary ropes.
