West Indies legend Brian Lara has joined the international cricket community in supporting jailed former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Imran, Pakistan's World Cup-winning captain, has been in jail since 2023 over corruption charges. He has faced several health issues in recent times.
During the coverage of the recently held Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan, Imran’s sons -- Kasim and Sulaiman Khan -- interacted with Michael Atherton for Sky Sports, where they alleged a "blatant" attempt to kill their father in prison, claiming his conditions have severely deteriorated under solitary confinement and that he is being denied critical medical care.
In an Instagram post, Lara sought proper medical treatment for Khan, saying it is basic humanity to treat someone with compassion and dignity.
"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," Lara wrote.
"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.
"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.
Earlier, 21 former international cricket captains—including Indian greats Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar—signed a joint letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif demanding immediate, adequate medical care and humane treatment for Imran Khan.
While no former Pakistani cricketers were among the letter's signatories, Imran’s former teammate Javed Miandad has called for his release, describing him as a very honest person. Former wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan too joined the bandwagon, urging the government to ensure that the legendary cricketer-turned-politician receives the necessary medical treatment.
