Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is standing tall on the cusp of history. As his political outfit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf – of which he is the founder and chairman – is leading the Pakistani general elections, he appears to be taking guard as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. It’s going to be a dream-come-true moment for the erstwhile debonair man of world cricket.

He was, quite aptly, known by the moniker ‘King Khan’ during his cricket playing days. With his suave personality and inspirational leadership, Khan not only ruled the world of cricket with his own terms and unparalleled all-round display but also catapulted his country, Pakistan, to the highest echelons of world cricket. He was the Franz Beckenbauer of world cricket who like "Der Kaiser", instilled the indomitable spirit and a never-say-die attitude in his team that went on to win the World Cup – the most coveted silverware in world cricket – in 1992. 

No player before and after Khan made as much impact as him in world cricket from his country. A tireless performer and an indefatigable warrior, he came out of retirement to lead his country to that epic World Cup triumph – their only till date – against some of the best in the business.

He was a rarity both as a cricketer and an all-rounder who could both bowl and bat with great ease and extraordinary excellence. He reached the pinnacle of his cricketing career towards its fag end and his ascent to the epoch of Pakistan politics also came after a long wait for over two decades. Once he was done with his injury-interrupted cricketing career after conquering its highest peak, Khan took the plunge into politics. Despite coming as a rank-outsider, the Oxford-educated got into the groove of politics in no time and carved a niche for his party as the third player with years of work.

“Sports teaches you that life is not in a straight line,” he said during an interview earlier this year. “You take the knocks. You learn from your mistakes,” said the man, who suffered a thrashing defeat during his electoral debut in 1996 and survived several crushing losses, a turbulent personal as well political life, to fulfill his long-time dream of leading his country.

Born into the first family of Pakistan cricket, the man, who was once the prince charming of the game with his charismatic and magnetic personality both on and off the field and was known for having his trademark free-spirited, flamboyant and Casanova image, underwent a paradigm shift to transform himself into a seasoned and severe politician, who could attract the masses with his conservative ideology and fiery speeches.

Historically, a slew of Olympians, eminent sportspersons did join politics in their respective countries after walking down the Sunset Boulevard. Many of them were made ministers in their respective countries' or remained opposition leaders or legislators. However, two-time former FIFA World Footballer of Year award-winner George Weah, whose dream of playing in the FIFA World Cup finals remained elusive for good during his glittering football career in Italy, won last year’s general elections in the African country of Liberia to become its President earlier this year. Now it’s the turn of the World Cup-winning captain from Pakistan to jump into the bandwagon of sportsperson-turned-head of the government.