Age: 59
Occupation: Politician
The Pakistani former cricket star and international playboy has reincarnated himself as a pious, populist politician and shaken up the political scene in his troubled South Asian homeland. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice), has emerged from obscurity this past year as a new dominant player in the country's turbulent democracy, challenging the unpopular government of President Asif Ali Zardari while capitalizing on widespread frustrations over corruption, governance and U.S. drone attacks.