Many luminaries from the world of cricket – including Indian icons Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar – Support has been provided to the ex Pakistan Multi-talented Imran Khan has been in jail for over two years. There are reports that Khan, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, is nearly blind in one eye, allegedly due to medical negligence while incarcerated. He was removed from office on multiple corruption charges.Momentum for better treatment of Khan is growing after former Australia captain Greg Chappell launched a petition earlier this week urging authorities to ensure proper medical care for the jailed leader. The call was backed by several former international captains.In a conversation with Australian journalists Gideon Haigh and Peter Lalor, Chappell explained what prompted him to take action.“So, you know, I’ve been following him and keeping in touch with him as much as I can, but since he’s been in jail, it’s been impossible. I’m in regular contact with one of his best friends, and even his family hasn’t been able to see him while he’s been in jail. So, it’s been bothering me for a while, but I’m like, well… what difference does a voice make? This was while talking to my friends [name not clear]and he said, well, why don’t you talk to the other captains and see if you can get a group of captains to make a statement that might have more weight.“Public support for India’s cricket superstar is far from assured, given the longstanding political tensions between India and Pakistan and Khan’s staunch stance against India during his tenure as prime minister. Although Khan visited India several times as a cricketer and political leader and developed personal connections there, many of his Indian acquaintances have remained silent since his imprisonment.Chappell admitted that he was shocked at how quickly Gavaskar and Kapil agreed to support the initiative. “Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev were probably under more pressure than the rest of us, but they both reacted immediately. You may have seen Sunny’s comments… they have been friends for a long time,” he said.Earlier, Gavaskar had spoken about his long-standing collaboration with Khan in his speech, raising eyebrows on both sides of the border. “I have known Imran since he was 17, when India were playing at Worcester… after their Test series victory at The Oval. He was trying to qualify as an overseas player for Worcestershire at the time. Whatever the political differences there are, we believe he should be looked after in a humane manner and given proper medical care,” he told The Indian Express.Others who signed the petition include Ian Chappell, Clive Lloyd, Alan Border, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Michael Brierley, David Gower, Steve Waugh, John Wright, Kim Hughes and Belinda Clark.
