Two Former Pakistan Captains speak up for Imran Khan as Health Concerns Grow

Two former Pakistan captains have publicly spoken out over the continued imprisonment and reported health concerns surrounding Imran Khan.

Javed Miandad made an emotional appeal for his former teammate's release, and Moin Khan urged authorities to ensure that the 1992 World Cup-winning captain receives proper medical care.

Miandad, who shared the dressing room with Imran for years and was part of Pakistan's historic 1992 World Cup triumph, became visibly emotional while discussing the former captain during an interview with the Narrative YouTube channel.

"He is an honest man. He is not someone who engages in corrupt practices, otherwise he would have done a lot of things," Miandad said.

"What will happen if you let him out? Will he eat or damage someone? He is also someone's son. I always think about what he must be doing," he added.

Miandad said his assessment of Imran was shaped by the years they spent together representing Pakistan as well as playing county cricket. He also rejected the perception that the two were bitter rivals, acknowledging their disagreements but insisting that their shared commitment to Pakistan always came first.

"We didn't have any rivalry," Miandad said. "Whatever differences we had, we played for Pakistan and fought for Pakistan."

Imran, who led Pakistan to their only men's ODI World Cup title in 1992, has been held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since 2023 following convictions in corruption cases. His family and supporters have continued to raise concerns about his health and prison conditions.

Moin Khan, another member of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning squad, separately appealed to authorities to respect Imran's right to medical treatment.

"Our captain Imran Khan, as you all know, is currently in Adiala jail, and his condition is quite bad at present. One more time, I will urge the authorities, the government of Pakistan and all those people who run the Adiala jail. My request is that our captain's right, as a former prime minister, as a citizen of Pakistan, his right to medical care should be honoured."

"Whatever he needs, it should be seen to. Besides, I also urge other cricketers to speak up and voice their support for him. Imran Khan's contribution to Pakistan cricket is immense and all of us who played in his era learnt a lot from him. He has given Pakistan cricket a lot," Moin added.

The appeals come after Imran recently underwent a medical examination in Islamabad before being returned to Adiala Jail, amid continued debate over access to medical care.

A number of former captains across the world including India's Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar signed a petition to the Pakistan government for Imran Khan's proper treatment.