Sports stars taking to politics as a second career after retiring is not unusual. Only in some cases are they passive players; mostly, they put their never-say-die sporting spirit to good use at the hustings and pull off spectacular victories, as demonstrated by Imran Khan’s inexorable ascent to the prime ministership of Pakistan last year. But active sportspersons entering politics is rarer, unlike film stars, lawyers and business tycoons.
So, the landslide win for Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh’s serving one-day international (ODI) captain, in the general elections on the last day of 2018 is truly one for the record books. Of course, legendary Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao is a shining example of active sport stars becoming successful politicians, being a serving senator in the Philippines as well as the reigning WBA welterweight champion.MC Mary Kom is India’s similar out-of-the-box(ing rink) success, as a regular Rajya Sabha attendee even as she maintains a stellar record of international medals. Her predecessors have not all been so sporting.
With the lack of sporting spirit increasingly evident in legislatures across the world, the entry of more active sportspeople may be beneficial. And the sporting motto politicians should remember is, “Respect your opponent, because without him or her, there is no game.”
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