In Phase 4 of Lok Sabha polls, two World Cup-winning cricketers will test the political pitch of West Bengal

As the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal turns to its slog overs, two World Cup-winning cricketers -- Yusuf Pathan and Kirti Azad -- will be testing the political pitch of the State

As the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal turns to its slog overs, two World Cup-winning cricketers will be testing the political pitch of the State.

The 65-year-old former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad, who was part of the 1983 World Cup winning squad is contesting from Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha Constituency while Yusuf Pathan, 41-year-old former member of the Indian cricket team that won the World Cup in 2011, is testing political waters from Baharampur seat in Murshidabad.

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Both of them are contesting the polls on the Trinamool Congress ticket and are in contest against political heavyweights. Mr. Azad is contesting against former West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Ghosh from Bardhaman-Durgapur, while Mr. Pathan is contesting against five time Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is defending the Baharampur seat.

Though their candidatures has been subject of much debate since the TMC decided to field candidates from outside the State — something which the party has accused the BJP of doing — the two cricketers have added much colour to the election campaign this season.

In the industrial township of Bardhaman-Durgapur marked by steel plants, Mr. Azad who has been both an MP and MLA from the BJP, before turning to Congress and now the TMC has been raising the issue of attempts of eviction of locals from Durgapur Steel Plant area.

“I will die but not let you be evicted from your land. If Dilip Ghosh has the courage he should come and say that people will not be evicted from the land,” Mr. Azad says during his campaign.