Brian Lara has become the latest cricketing legend to lend his support to Imran Khan, who has been in jail since 2023. Lara, who played a few matches against Imran, has asked for him to receive proper and independent medical care in Pakistan.
Recently, reports surfaced that the former Pakistan captain wasn’t keeping well and was taken to a hospital in Islamabad following the Supreme Court’s order. “Imran Khan and I only crossed paths on the field a handful of times, but the respect I have for him was instant and lasting. I am struggling to understand how someone who was once a beacon of hope, pride and inspiration for his country, at the height of his sporting career, could now find himself in a situation where he is not being cared for and treated with the compassion and dignity he deserves,” Lara wrote on Instagram.
“I stand with my fellow former captains in asking that he receive proper, independent medical care and the dignity every human being deserves. This isn’t politics. It’s basic humanity for a legend of our game,” he added.
Imran, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, was removed from the position in April 2022. Few months later, he was barred from contesting elections. He was arrested in May 2023 and hasn’t been released since then.
21 captains wrote to Pakistan government
Recently, 21 former appealed to the Pakistan government to provide proper health care to Imran Khan. The list included Michael Atherton, Alex Blackwell, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Alastair Cook, Sunil Gavaskar, Lee Germon, Adam Gilchrist, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev, Arjuna Ranatunga, Andrew Strauss, Dilip Vengsarkar, Stephen Waugh and John Wright.
Atherton also interviewed Imran’s children during the recent Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board was upset with the interview and reportedly threatened to boycott the Test midway through the match. The interview didn’t air in Pakistan.