Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri has become the latest international cricketer to voice his concerns for jailed former Pakistan cricketer and Prime Minister Imran Khan. The 1992 World Cup-winning Pakistan captain is in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, and concerns are growing about his health and well-being.
Earlier, 21 former international cricketers had sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, calling for better conditions for Imran, but all went in vain. In addition, seven former cricketers from Australia had written to their own government to intervene in this issue and ensure that Imran gets the required assistance.
Imran has been imprisoned since 2023, and the former Prime Minister of Pakistan is lodged in jail and does not have any books in the prison. Moreover, his condition has deteriorated as well, and he is left with 15 percent eyesight in one of his eyes because the authorities did not give him proper treatment.
Shastri said it is surprising to see how the legendary cricketer is being treated and commented that no “human” should be treated like this by the authorities.
“I'm not a politician. But just to see the way he's being treated today is shocking. You know, no one treats a human being like that. On humanitarian grounds, I don't think he deserves what he's getting. So, I don't speak just for myself. I think there'll be a lot of cricketers around the globe who will be echoing the same sentiments,” Shastri told Republic World.
“I just hope he's well and his health is good. Because what he gave to the game was something special. And my memories of him are just of him being an outstanding leader. You know, just a leader of men. The ability to motivate youngsters and then take them through. You said he came close at the age of 40, captain of the side, and he won the World Cup with a pretty young team,” he added.
When asked whether he thinks Imran would come out of jail, Shastri replied, “Hopefully. Hope he comes out and is treated better. He's been there for a long time. You could be out somewhere else, in the same position, because I don't understand the politics. But to sit in a cell there, he doesn't deserve it because he's the most recognized Pakistani face globally. Whether you like it or not, that's my view."
Shastri, who played a lot of cricket against Imran during his playing days, called him one of the greatest to play the sport. He called the ex-captain a “leader of men," someone who can inspire his team against all odds.
“This man you're seeing there with me was an unbelievable cricketer. I mean, a great cricketer is an understatement. The rivalry was out of respect. It was India-Pakistan at the time, with both teams playing a lot of cricket. So that rivalry was there. But this fellow, as a cricketer, was something else. He was a leader. Leader of men. Magnificent all-round cricketer,” he added.
