Test cricketers appeal to Pakistani government over prison treatment
“Cricket has long been a bridge between nations. Our shared history on the field reminds us that rivalries end when the stumps are drawn and respect endures. Imran Khan has embodied this spirit throughout his career. We call on the authorities to honor this spirit now by upholding the principles of civility and justice.”
Gavaskar, a hugely influential voice and popular commentator in India, said of Imran: “It’s terrible what they’ve done to him. We’ve been friends ever since he tried to qualify as an overseas player for Worcestershire, not just as on-field rivals.”
Imran’s supporters have advocated for his release on medical grounds, arguing that he has lost 85 percent vision in his right eye, and have also condemned the denial of visits by his family and private doctor.
“He’s in a very small cell and it’s been described as ‘death row’ because that’s where they kept people who were about to be executed,” his son Suleiman said in December. “Sometimes the electricity is cut off, sometimes they are not allowed to read.
“When I was young, I hated having him in politics. I was constantly worried because I heard stories about his life being in danger. There have already been two incidents in which he almost died: in 2013, when he fell from a 20-meter platform during a rally in Lahore, and three years ago, he was shot.
“As an adult, I look at this from a different perspective now. Selfishly, I would love to be able to see him and have him here with us. But I also want him to move on, because that’s what he sees as his mission.”
Test cricket greats Greg Chappell and Imran Khan are reuniting in 2020.Credit: Facebook
Imran and his second wife Bushra Bibi have been in prison since August 2023 after Imran was ousted from the leadership of Pakistan last year.
He then faced a mounting slew of corruption charges, which now carry a sentence of up to 31 years in prison after the latest verdict in December.
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“The water he takes a shower with is not only dirty but also discolored,” said his other son Kasım.
“A dozen inmates in that prison died of hepatitis and all of them were supporters of his political party, PTI. “The psychological torture they used to break him. But it is very, very difficult to break.”
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