Javed Miandad was overcome with emotion while discussing the plight of former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan, strongly defending the character of his longtime teammate and questioning the circumstances surrounding his imprisonment.
The two Pakistan greats were central figures during an era when the national side established itself as one of the most intimidating teams in international cricket. Speaking on the Narrative YouTube channel, the former Pakistan batter rejected the suggestion that Imran had engaged in corrupt practices. Miandad also questioned what purpose was being served by keeping the former captain behind bars.
Their association stretched across a significant period of Pakistan’s cricketing rise, with Imran eventually leading the country to its only ODI World Cup triumph in 1992.
Sulaiman and Kasim appeared on Sky Sports during the lunch interval of the second Test between England and Pakistan at Lord’s on Thursday. ‘He is an honest man. He is not someone who engages in corrupt practices, otherwise he would have done a lot of things. What will happen if you let him out? Will he eat or damage someone? He is also someone’s son. Former England captain Michael Atherton conducted the interview. ‘They are not even acting with any kind of strategy anymore. It is not very clear what they are doing, just blatantly trying to kill him in there. Keep him in as long as possible and silence him. He has been relating it to other political prisoners who have been killed or who have died in prison. The broadcast also triggered a dispute involving the Pakistan Cricket Board, which objected to the segment. The PCB reportedly warned that Pakistan could refuse to return to the field after the lunch interval, although the players eventually resumed the match. Australia’s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins also publicly backed the campaign seeking appropriate medical treatment for Imran. His intervention followed an appeal from former international captains, including India’s Sunil Gavaskar, who have called on Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure humane treatment and proper medical care for the former all rounder.
Right now, it is worse than ever, completely isolating him for more than 23 hours a day in a cell,’ Kasim said in the interview.
I always think about what he must be doing,’ Miandad said. The last time he was able to speak to our aunties and anyone else, he said the conditions have severely worsened recently.
