Former Pakistan international Javed Miandad broke down during an interview while urging the Pakistan authorities to treat the imprisoned former Prime Minister and cricketer Imran Khan more humanely.
Imran, who led Pakistan to the World Cup in 1992, was in news earlier this week after his sons appeared in an interview on Sky Sportsalleging the Pakistan government of treating their father poorly in prison and directly flouting a Supreme Court order. They claimed that the authorities were not allowing Imran’s personal doctor access to him, to treat a reported loss of vision in one eye.
According to news reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board briefly pondered boycotting the second Test midway after the interview was aired but continued after being requested by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Miandad now becomes the first Pakistan cricketer to openly speak out in favour of Imran.
“I would just urge Pakistan to resolve the issue. He’s also someone’s son. I often think about him, how would he be coping in prison,” Miandad said while holding back his tears on a YouTube channel.
“We were close when we were playing. We used to play County together, we used to understand each other. He took Pakistan to great heights, to neglect him like this is unfair. What is wrong is wrong. What will happen if he is released? Will he eat us alive? I pray to Allah that this matter is resolved as soon as possible. I know Imran, he’s an honest man. He was never corrupt,” he added.
Former captains of international cricket teams, which included Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis among others, have twice appealed to the Pakistan government for the humane treatment of Imran.
