Mohammad Kaif to contest Lok Sabha elections

Mohammad Kaif, the former India batsman, will contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh's Phulpur constituency on a Congress ticket. Kaif is one of 194 Lok Sabha candidates whose names were released by the Congress Party on March 8.

"I was born and brought up in Allahabad. I have played cricket in the streets of this city. People looked at me with pride when I played for India. I am hopeful that they will support me," Kaif told PTI. "After cricket, politics is like a second innings for me. I hope to be as successful in politics as I was in cricket."

Kaif, 33, is an active domestic cricketer for UP. He played the Ranji Trophy in 2013-14 and a Vijay Hazare Trophy game against Vidarbha on March 5 this year. He last played for India in 2006, having ended his international career with 13 Tests and 125 ODIs.