England cricket hero Monty Panesar is set to stand for the Workers' Party at the next General Election.
Party boss George Galloway revealed the news that the legendary spinner will be standing in Southall during an LBC interview this morning.
And in his first interview on the subject Panesar told MailOnline that he is sick of watching the 'average Joe' in society struggle the most under both Conservative and Labour historic leaderships, adding that 'it is time for a change'.
He said: 'They are not getting fair treatment and I'm tired of seeing the poorest people in the country being affected the most.
'They are people and their voices are not being heard.
Leader of the Workers Party of Britain George Galloway (R) looks on as former England cricketer Monty Panesar (C) addresses fellow party candidates in Parliament Square today
Former England cricketer Monty Panesar (back right) attends a news conference with George Galloway MP to announce the 200 candidates running at the next general election
The 41-year old was born in Luton to Indian parents, before going on to play for England from 2006-2013
Panesar told MailOnline he is standing because the public 'are not getting fair treatment and I'm tired of seeing the poorest people in the country being affected the most. 'They are people and their voices are not being heard'
'I want to stand for the working class people, the workers of our country, to make their lives easier.
'I am confident I will win and I'm looking forward to it.'
When pressed on what drew him to the Workers' Party he argued that both Labour and the Conservatives were simply 'not helping', and instead were pushing 'the gap between the rich and the poor' making it 'bigger and bigger.'
Just two months since Galloway won the Rochdale by-election with a hardline pro-Palestinian stance, the firebrand politician is today set to announce a further 200 candidates who will stand for his party.
Including a former UKIP member of the European parliament.
English cricketing hero Monty Panesar is set to stand for the Workers' Party at the next General Election. Pictured at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2013
Queen Elizabeth II met Panesar after having watched a performance by nutkhut, a London-based British-Indian dance company
Just two months since Galloway (above) won the Rochdale by-election with a hardline pro-Palestinian stance, the firebrand politician is today set to announce further 200 candidates who will stand for his party
He told LBC this morning: 'I am going to present 200 of them [candidates] outside of Parliament this afternoon, including Monty Panesar the ace Indian cricketer who will be our candidate in Southall.
'We've got a former conservative UKIP member of the European parliament, so people from left, right and centre are rejecting the tweedle-dee tweedle-dum politics.'
Panesar, 41 was born in Luton to Indian Sikh parents, before going on to play for England from 2006-2013.
He was part of the team that made it to victory in the 2009 Ashes Series and took 167 Test wickets during his career.
Panesar's last international series was against Australia in the 2013-14 Ashes, but he has not played professionally since leaving Northamptonshire in 2016.
Although never formally announcing retirement, after leaving cricket in 2016 he went on the study sports journalism at St Mary's University, London, and is currently a freelance journalist and writer.
However, in December it was announced that he had signed with the East Anglian Premier League side Great Witchingham, in Norfolk for their 2024 campaign.
