Brian Lara Voices Support For Imran Khan; Backs Kapil Dev And Co's Appeal

Imran Khan and Brian Lara  [Source: AFP/X]

While the Pakistan government has been turning its attention away from the Imran Khan issue, West Indies legend Brian Lara has now come forward to voice his support for the Pakistan pace legend. 

Imran Khan, one of the greatest cricketers in Pakistan's history, is currently in prison and, as per a recent interview aired by Sky Sports Network and reports from his sons, Khan has not been given proper medical care under the Pakistan government. 

Speaking up on the issue alongside 21 other former players, Brian Lara has now raised his voice, pleading for better care on humanitarian grounds.

Brian Lara Pleads for Better Care for Imran Khan

As per the most recent reports, Khan is experiencing severe health issues and strict isolation in prison while serving a multi-year sentence at Adiala Jail. 

Khan's family has also reported that his physical and mental health has declined over time, with the 73-year-old former Prime Minister of Pakistan facing long periods of solitary confinement with restricted access to visitors.

This has disturbed the cricketing community as well, and alongside other legends, Brian Lara has now joined hands to stand up for his rival. Lara shared a long post on his Instagram handle, calling for proper medical care for the legend.

“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,” wrote Lara.

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Brian Lara Urges to Call Off Politics for the Sake of Humanity

Alongside Lara, many legendary veterans have pleaded for better treatment of Imran by the Pakistan government. Lara, while acknowledging the statement alongside Sir Clive Lloyd and others, also pleaded that politics should be set aside on humanitarian grounds for a legend of the game.

“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,” Lara wrote.

Notably, Brian Lara faced Imran only a handful of times. He first met Imran while playing an ODI against Pakistan in November 1990. He met him again in the third Test in Lahore, representing the West Indies in his debut Test match on December 6, 1990.

The rise and fall of Imran Khan from Prime Minister to prisoner

For the uninitiated, Imran, around 2011, gained popularity with his own political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He campaigned heavily against political corruption, and in July 2018, his PTI party won the most seats in the National Assembly. He subsequently formed a coalition government and took oath as the Prime Minister of the nation.

However, in 2022, he was removed through a vote of no confidence in Parliament after falling out with the military, while economic crises and public anger also mounted amid severe economic distress. 

Khan's political party, the PTI, did not hold an absolute majority in Parliament, and as his position weakened, some of his key allies and party members switched sides to join the opposition. Following his removal, he was imprisoned on charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets and other offences.

Since multiple former captains have reunited to plead for Imran Khan, Brian Lara's request seems only just, despite having represented opposing sides during their brief overlap in international cricket.

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