“I had felt the identical rigidity earlier than the 2007 India-Pakistan World T20 closing in South Africa. That helped and I knew that I may deal with it,” Pathan, the cricketer turned TMC politician, instructed The Indian Specific whereas driving to Kolkata to satisfy his occasion chief Mamata Banerjee.
The 2 comparable days within the 41-year-old’s storied life each led to well-known wins.
In 2007, M S Dhoni’s younger workforce, wherein the all-rounder performed a key position, went on to win the inaugural World T20 title in opposition to all expectations. Seventeen years later, on Tuesday, Pathan as soon as once more proved to be an enormous killer, polling 5,24,516 votes to defeat the Congress occasion’s most vocal MP Chowdhury by 85,022 votes.
A day after the triumph, the Baroda resident, who was labelled through the 2024 Lok Sabha election marketing campaign by his rivals as an “outsider”, gave the impression to be settling within the new position as a folks’s consultant. “Nervousness on a giant day just isn’t new. However as time passes, issues begin getting regular. It’s like once I stroll out to bat on debut… the extra you keep on the crease, the extra issues get regular. As counting went alongside, issues began easing. I used to be assured that individuals would vote for me, the rallies I did, the love I acquired was wonderful,” Pathan stated.
‘Pathan in Parliament’ may now probably be the title of the newest chapter of the endearing fairytale in regards to the son of a muezzin who labored and stayed at Baroda’s well-known Jama Masjid. To lift the household that had two budding cricketers — Yusuf and his youthful brother Irfan — Pathan Sr additionally offered ‘ittar’ outdoors the masjid, labored at a chemical manufacturing facility and, at occasions, even drove an auto-rickshaw. Irfan, too, performed for the nation and the 2 brothers collectively have three World titles. Yusuf was additionally a part of the 2011 World Cup successful workforce.
After enjoying 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is, Pathan retired in 2022. An animal lover — he retains birds, rabbits and horses at this farm home — he appeared to be at peace. However 4 months in the past, he acquired an surprising name from the TMC. Baharampur’s 52-per cent Muslim voters and the position that Pathan performed in Kolkata Knight Riders’ two IPL titles have been stated to be the explanations for the method. The brothers then held an extended dialogue amongst themselves even because the household “was reluctant”. However then, trusting his instincts, Pathan determined to make the leap.
“Sooner or later, abruptly, I don’t know why, I stated ‘Let’s do it, we didn’t go asking for this. This chance has come to us, so allow us to take it’. By means of this, we might help folks and in case we now have to go to Bengal, what’s the drawback,” Pathan recalled.
He isn’t the one former cricketer to have gained on a TMC ticket from Bengal this time. Kirti Azad, the 1983 World Cup winner, too brought on a significant upset. He gained the Bardhaman–Durgapur seat by 1.38 lakh votes, pushing former West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh to second spot.
Now Azad, a four-time MP after his earlier wins from Darbhanga in Bihar, has some recommendation for Pathan. “It’s a must to work exhausting as you probably did on a cricket discipline. When you’re a cricketer, folks will flock to see you at stadiums and even if you end up within the workforce bus however right here, you need to go meet folks, perceive their issues and clear up them. Yusuf is a giantkiller and there shall be numerous expectations from him. If he comes as much as me, I can information him and let him know that in the event you work selflessly then no person can beat you,” Azad stated.
Pathan, too, has a plan in place and a few learnings. “I by no means thought I might grow to be an MP. Future took me to Bengal. I used to be born in Gujarat and now God has despatched me right here to do some work. Yeh duniya alag hai, galiyaan alag hai (This world is totally different, these streets are totally different), however my motto is obvious, to work for the general public,” he stated.
The marketing campaign did take Pathan to streets he hadn’t ventured. He talks about bike rides within the interiors of his rural constituency, and recollects one interplay that he’ll always remember. “A girl ran in the direction of me and handed me Rs 1,000 that was tied in a knot of her saree. Initially, I didn’t perceive why she was giving me the cash. She stated she acquired Rs 1,000 each month from the Mamata authorities as a part of a scheme. This time, she wished to present it to me for my marketing campaign. She requested, ‘Idhar accha kaam karna’ (Do good work right here). I had tears in my eyes,” he stated.