Basic facilities should be provided to prisoners: Kapil Dev begs Pakistan’s PM to treat Imran Khan

A day after former international cricket players wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the matter for the second time, the legendary Kapil Dev appealed on Monday for the compassionate treatment of imprisoned former Pakistan World Cup captain Imran Khan.

In response to orders from the nation’s Supreme Court, twenty-two former international captains from all around the world have sent Sharif a second letter in six months, reiterating their need for Imran’s medical care. Fourteen former captains, including Sunil Gavaskar, voiced serious concerns over Imran’s health in February of this year in response to claims of medical malpractice at the present regime’s Adiala prison.

Kapil stated that although he is unaware of Pakistani legislation, he can only ask the government to provide Imran with basic amenities and compassionate care.

“We don’t know the law of the country, that’s fine. But there should be humility and basic facilities for a prisoner, whoever may be. And he was a former Prime Minister of the country and a top cricketer of the world,” Kapil, who is the president of DP World Professional Golf Tour of India, said on the sidelines of the launch of DP World India Championship here.

“We want he should get the best treatment. What we are asking for, we are not asking for anything else, we are not asking for any replies. We are requesting.”

Besides Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, no other high-profile Pakistani cricketer has publicly come out in support of Imran or called for adequate medical treatment for the former captain. “I don’t blame them because they are Pakistani cricketers and staying there but we are looking from outside. I would like to support my friend with whom we played and admired his cricketing skills,” Kapil said.

Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Allan Border, Gavaskar, David Gower, Clive Lloyd, Arjuna Ranatunga, Steve Waugh, and John Wright are among the 22 people who have signed the letter. Imran was Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, however after being removed from power due to a conviction for corruption and other offences, he has been imprisoned.

Kapil also discussed the heated debate that took place on Sunday, the first day of the second Test in Colombo, between Sri Lankan seamer Asitha Fernando and young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. After Fernando disqualified Jaiswal, the two players got into a furious argument.

Both the players were on Monday fined 25 per cent of their match fees for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for the altercation. “Those things happen, you have to move on. Look at the positive side. That’s his (Jaiswal’s) way, that’s his way. It’s fine, every player has his own character. If that’s the way he wants to play, good luck to him. But the cricket board has to see where they have to draw a line and the player shouldn’t cross that line.”