Kapil Dev_Imran Khan - (Source: AFP)
Former India World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has come forward to extend support for jailed Pakistani legend Imran Khan. The 1983 World Cup winner, alongside 21 cricketers, wrote a letter to the Pakistan PM, demanding humare treatment for argubally the greatest Pakistani cricketer in the history of the sport.
In the latest events, Kapil Dev has opened up on the reason behind extending support for Imran Khan, who continues to be in jail since August 2023. Dev stated that the 21 former cricketers are not dwelling into the political aspect of the matter, but they demand humane treatment for the legend of the game.
Kapil Dev Stands Up To Support his Old Friend
Kapil Dev stated that the former cricketers are speaking for humane treatement that Imran Khan deserves. He further slammed Pakistan players for not speaking up but also cited the fear that comes by an in an oppessive country like Pakistan.
“I don’t blame Pakistani cricketers for not speaking up. They have to live there. But I want to stand up for my friend, Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan," Kapil Dev said.
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"We are not asking for anything. We are just asking that he gets access to proper treatment. We don’t want any replies; we just want him to get the treatment he needs.”
21 Cricketers Write Letter To Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif
Along with Kapil Dev, 20 other captains, including 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, Arjuna Ranatunga, Andrew Strauss, Dilip Vengsarkar, Stephen Waugh, John Wright, signed the petition.
This is the second time that the former captains have written to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif over Imran Khan's treatment in jail.
In their letter to the Pakistan PM, the former cricketers made three demands.
1. Allow an independent medical assessment
They asked that the medical board ordered by Pakistan's Supreme Court, including Imran Khan's personal doctors, be allowed to complete a full and independent assessment of his health, especially the reported loss of vision in his right eye.
2. Restore uninterrupted family visits
The captains urged the government to honour the Supreme Court's order allowing Khan's family to meet him every week without interruption or administrative delays.
3. Provide treatment without delay
They requested that any medical treatment recommended after the assessment be provided without delay.
Imran Khan Continues To Be In Pakistan Jail
Recently, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the Rawalpindi jail to move former Prime Minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan to the hospital, following his deteriorating health.
However, the former World Cup winning captain was again transfered to jail just hours after his medical visit in the hospital. The 72-year-old was removed from his post as Pakistan's PM in April 2022, before he was jailed in August 2023 following convictions in multiple high-profile legal and corruption cases.
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