Brian Lara has joined former international cricket captains calling for proper medical care and humane treatment for former Pakistan captain Imran Khan. Lara, who said he only crossed paths with Khan a handful of times during their playing days, said his respect for the 1992 World Cup-winning captain was immediate and lasting. His comments come amid growing concerns over Khan’s health and treatment while in prison.
“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 on Instagram. He added, “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’s message comes after former captains raised similar concerns over Khan’s medical treatment and access to independent care.
21 former captains including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev renew appeal over Imran Khan’s health
Twenty-one former international cricket captains have renewed their appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over the medical condition and treatment of former Pakistan captain Imran Khan. The latest appeal, initiated by former Australia captain Greg Chappell, follows a Supreme Court directive for Khan to undergo an independent medical examination. Former captains including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Adam Gilchrist, Alastair Cook, Clive Lloyd and Andrew Strauss are among the signatories. This is the group’s second appeal after 14 former captains wrote to the Pakistan government in February.
The former cricketers have asked authorities to allow the court-directed medical board to complete its independent assessment, restore weekly family visits and provide any treatment recommended by the assessment without delay. Khan was recently taken to hospital for a brief examination before being returned to prison. Chappell said, “We’re not asking Pakistan for anything unusual — just that a court order most countries would take for granted is actually carried out.” The former captains also stressed that they were writing “not as politicians, but as former colleagues and rivals who share a bond forged on the cricket field.” They said their appeal was focused on Khan’s health and dignity rather than Pakistan’s domestic political or legal matters.
