Kapil Dev urges humane treatment and medical care for jailed Imran Khan
Kapil Dev on Monday said jailed former Pakistan prime minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan should receive the best possible medical care and basic facilities, speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the DP World India Championship here.
A group of former international cricketers has written to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the second time in six months, urging authorities to ensure proper medical treatment for Imran following directives from the country’s Supreme Court; in February 14 former international captains, including Sunil Gavaskar, raised concerns over alleged medical negligence at Adiala prison.
Kapil, who is president of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India, said he was not familiar with Pakistani law but insisted on humane treatment, saying: "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,".
He repeated his appeal for medical attention in plain terms, adding: "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."
The latest letter was signed by 22 former captains, with the signatories including Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Allan Border, Sunil Gavaskar, David Gower, Clive Lloyd, Arjuna Ranatunga, Steve Waugh and John Wright.
Kapil noted that apart from Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, no other prominent Pakistani cricketer had publicly backed Imran or called for adequate medical treatment, and said: "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,"
Separately, Kapil commented on an on-field incident during the opening day of the second Test in Colombo on Sunday, when Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando dismissed India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and the two were involved in an animated exchange; both players were fined 25 per cent of their match fees on Monday for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. He said: "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,"
The requests from former cricketers remain with Pakistani authorities after the second letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Kapil's public appeal reiterated their call for Imran Khan to receive the medical care and basic prisoner facilities sought by the signatories.
