On Wednesday, early trends suggested that PTI leader Imran Khan was most likely to become the next prime minister of Pakistan. An international cricketer, who led Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992, if elected Imran becomes one of a handful of leaders to also play professional sport.
Interestingly, Imran's political rival Nawaz Sharif was a club cricketer, who played one first-class match where he was dismissed for a duck.
But here are other leaders to have played sport on a national or global platform
George Loah
Loah, who was elected Liberia’s President earlier this year played football for his country, where he scored 22 goals. In addition, he also represented clubs such as Manchester City, Chelsea (on loan), Paris St Germain. Overall, in his career as a club footballer, he has 193 goals in 411 outings
Idi Amin
The Ugandan dictator was an athlete during his time with both the British and Ugandan Army. He was the Ugandan light heavyweight boxing champion from 1951 to 1960, as well as a swimmer. Amin was also a formidable rugby forward. In the 1950s, he played for Nile RFC
Prince Albert II of Monaco
Prince Albert competed in five Winter Olympics from 1988-2002 as a member of his nation's bobsled team.
Sir Alec Douglas-Home
Lord Home of the Hirsel, The Baron, KT, PC, who died at his home on October 9, 1995, aged 92, was the only British prime minister to have played first-class cricket. He had a first-class batting average of 16.33 and a bowling average of 30.25 with his fast-medium bowling.
Viktor Orban
Hungary's prime minister played at an amateur level with his local club Felcslut FC, where he remains on the books. He is known to have famously cancelled a cabinet meeting to play for them back in 2001.
Dwight Eisenhower
At West Point, former US President Dwight Eisenhower started as a varsity running back and linebacker in 1912.
Gerald Ford
Sport: The former US President, He played center and linebacker for the University of Michigan, leading the team to undefeated seasons and national titles in 1932 and 1933
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