‘They came, they saw, they conquered’ is exactly how many professional athletes are described to have done during their heyday. Wherever they went, they were cheered, loved and mobbed by their fans — but for some this life has continued even after disassociating themselves from sports. Some have taken the job behind the microphone; others have gone on to become acting superstars while a few dabbled in politics.

Still playing to the crowds

Imran Khan had a glorious career as a cricketer from the 1970s till the early 1990s. He finished his career at a high, winning the World Cup for Pakistan in 1992. Since then he has been involved in philanthropy through the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, which he built. His claim to fame, however, is that he can be ‘the next prime minister of Pakistan’ just as Al Gore could have been the ‘next president of America’.

Let’s take a look at some superstars for whom life has taken a ‘profitable’ turn even after bidding adieu to the world of sports

Imran Khan’s political party Tehreek-i-Insaf came out as the second largest party in Pakistan during the general elections of 2013, and PTI is now in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is no small achievement. Whatever Khan does these days — be it his decision to hold a sit-in, marry a TV journalist or criticise the government’s policies — it becomes breaking news, making him easily the most successful athlete after retirement.

Not out!

Once he was the highest run getter in Tests, now he is one of the most successful commentators in cricket. Since his retirement in 1987, Sunil Gavaskar has been lending his voice and thoughts to the game of cricket. Who can forget his prediction in the World Cup of 1992 that as long as Imran Khan was at the helm, Pakistan could win the Cup! Post retirement, he has written books on cricket along with penning articles on the game besides being an avid supporter of Asian cricketers against the ‘white man’.

Shahid Afridi modelling his creation

As lethal as ever

The most lethal left-arm pacer to grace the cricket field is enjoying a successful post-cricket career as an analyst and commentator. Not only did Wasim Akram’s wedding to Shaniera, an Australian girl, was covered by local and international media, his comments regarding the Pakistan cricket team usually are listened to as advice. Such is his stature in both India and Pakistan. He also had a short stint as a TV presenter for Indian channels where first Ravi Shastri and later actress Sushmita Sen partnered him as hosts.

The expert’s comment

Same is the case with Ramiz Raja, who is recognised more as a commentator than as a cricketer and who scored as many as three centuries in World Cup cricket for Pakistan. Ever since retirement from the game in 1997, Ramiz has been a regular English commentator and has now won an army of fans with his Urdu commentary as well. Retirement has proven to be lucky for the man who scored as many as nine ODI centuries for his country — a one-time national record.

Sports goods factory

Veteran hockey player Shahnaz Sheikh has always been involved with the game — be it as a critic or a coach. Recently, the Pakistan hockey team failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics and Shahnaz was criticised for his ineptness to motivate the boys. Even if he is removed from the post, his association with the game will continue — he owns a sports goods factory in Sialkot which gets him the bucks required to keep the stove burning in his kitchen.

Mohsin Khan, the coach, with Misbah

‘I’ll be back!’

The former Mr Universe is ‘back’! Arnold Schwarzenegger has been the most successful athlete turned film actor of all times. From delivering hits like Commando, Predator, Total Recall, Kindergarten Cop, T2: Judgment Day, Eraser, Escape Plan to ruling California as governor for eight years, this former bodybuilder has seen it all. His recent return to acting has made his fans happy and they are hoping that there isn’t a leave this time.

Man of many talents

The only Pakistani batsman to score a double century at cricket’s home, Lord’s, isn’t known to the current generation due to his heroics on the field. People know him as the film actor who worked in both Bollywood and Lollywood, had a brief career as a TV actor and married Indian actress Reena Roy in the 1980s. Mohsin Khan who also made his debut as a commentator during the mid-1990s when Ramiz Raja was still playing cricket now spends his time as an expert on TV channels. He remains one of the most successful coaches in the country as well, and many credit him for the success of Misbah ul Haq, as it was under his tenure that Misbah and Co was able to whitewash England in the United Arab Emirates in 2012.

O.J. Simpson as Kadi Touray in Roots

‘The Juice’

Would you believe if I told you that O.J. Simpson was considered for the role of T-800 (a role that went to Arnold Schwarzenegger) and was rejected because the producers thought he was too nice to play the bad guy! In real life, the former footballer turned actor was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole and her boyfriend Ronald Goldman in the 1990s and was acquitted after a lengthy battle in the court. He had earlier risen his stature as an actor by appearing in Roots (1977), The Klansman (1974), The Towering Inferno (1974), Capricorn One (1978) and The Naked Gun trilogy (1988 - 1994).

Solid as a rock

In the ring he is ‘The Rock’, onscreen Dwayne Johnson. Many term this WWE Superstar as the heir to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s legacy and he continues to impress with the passage of time. He hasn’t retired completely from the sport but has become inclined more towards showbiz — having his own HBO series being the latest catch. From Race to the Witch Mountain to Fast & the Furious franchise, Dwayne has acted in the most successful films in recent years and is estimated to have earned more than US$50 million last year! Now that’s serious money, considering the WWE star doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

George Foreman selling his grill

A bit of grilling

Big George has been one of the most colourful characters ever to grace the boxing ring; he won the gold medal in the 1968 Mexico Olympics, was defeated by Mohammad Ali in 1974’s Rumble in the Jungle bout and after retiring in 1977, made a comeback at the age of 45 to regain the Heavy­weight championship title. It was in 1994 that he decided to take up another career as an entrepreneur and unveiled the George Foreman Grill. His grill has so far sold over 100 million units worldwide and if reports are to be believed, he was paid $137.5m for the use of his name by the company that produces the grill. Now that’s a lot of money!

Food and fashion

Shahid Afridi or Lala, as he is popularly known, has been successful in every format he has played — took his first five-wicket haul in his debut Test, scored the fastest century in his second ODI and helped Pakistan win the World T20 through his majestic performance in 2009. Since he has retired from two of the three formats, he has become an entrepreneur. Stepping into the fashion industry his kurta collection is recognised worldwide. He also has a restaurant in Lahore named Al Kabab (formerly Spice) which is his first such project. For the fans of the game, the place is a tourist spot especially since it provides them a chance to meet their favourite cricketer in the flesh. One hopes that he indulges in more such endeavours after retirement from all forms of the game in 2016 and opens more chains all over the country.

Michael Jordan and his brand of shoe

Walking on air

Number 23 is not only the most famous athlete in the world; he is also the wealthiest! Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time owns an NBA franchise of sneakers named Air Jordan and it was due to its success that he was recently welcomed into the billionaire’s club, thus becoming the first athlete to become a billionaire, according to Forbes. It was also reported that the lead of Space Jam made more money last year than he did during his entire career!

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, July 19th, 2015

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