O captain, my captain! Why Imran Khan, the sportsman, will be a good leader
Just the mention of the name Imran Khan incites an emotion. But here’s the interesting bit — you wouldn’t be able to tell which opinion came from which side of the border. For us Indians, he has been our favourite pantomime villain. We watched with glee from a distance as he dismantled oppositions with the ball, the bat, or sometimes just with his presence on the field but always holding a grudge when he did the same to us. But it’s hard to hate someone who was so charmingly effective, both on and off the field. This is not the first time Imran Khan has galvanised Pakistan.
He proudly donned his country’s colours carrying aloft the ultimate prize in cricket, the World Cup, covered in confetti at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1992.
And now in 2018, claiming the most important seat in his homeland with a generous helping of charm and confidence, powered by the enthusiasm from his nation towards their captain.
His victory though, is not an anomaly. Liberia, a nation ravaged by dictatorship, civil unrest and most recently a deadly Ebola epidemic, found for itself a man who put his nation on the world map.
65-year old George Weah has always been adored by his country.
A footballer par excellence, he easily tops the list when it comes to the best of the best in African football. His fabled career was heavily punctuated with individual and team honours for club and country. He still remains the only African player to win the Ballon D’or, and now also the 25th president of Liberia. He has slashed his own salary and resolved to give his nation the same will and effort that he gave to the beautiful game, and his countrymen have joyously agreed.
There is something about the aura of an athlete that captures the imagination of the masses, more than any politician or any artiste ever could.
The President of the Tehreek-e-Insaaf has pledged to drag his country from the clutches of military abuse and influence, systemic corruption and just like India, a problem of poverty which is showing its worst effect on the most important section of society, its youth.
It is not that difficult to imagine emotions reaching fever pitch if Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar ever decided it was time to actually assume the title of the “most important Indian”. Because just like Imran and George, he has carried the hopes and dreams of an entire nation, longer than politicians and their political careers.
Because a sportsman is resilient in the face of adversity, patient in times of chaos, efficient when needed, elegant when expected.