Wasim Akram calls on Pakistani authorities to treat Imran Khan fairly
In Pakistan, former cricketer Wasim Akram called on the authorities to ensure fair treatment of his former national team captain and ex-prime minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since 2023. As Dawn reports, Akram spoke on the Old Boys, New Balls podcast, co-hosted by former England captain Ian Botham.
Akram’s appeal
Akram thanked 21 former captains of international cricket teams who had previously signed a petition concerning Khan. In August, the group, which included Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev among others, called on Pakistani authorities to treat Khan humanely and with “basic human consideration”.
According to Akram, he misses Khan as a friend, mentor and leader. He also said that he would like Khan to receive fair treatment, which, he said, other politicians had received in the past. Akram was one of the key players in Pakistan’s team that Khan led to victory at the 1992 Cricket World Cup in Australia.
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Imprisonment and reaction in cricket
Imran Khan is 73 years old. At the end of last year, he and his wife were sentenced to 17 years in prison in a corruption case; both deny the charges.
During the first day of the recent second Test match between England and Pakistan at London’s Lord’s stadium, Sky Sports aired an interview by former England captain Michael Atherton with Khan’s sons, Kasim and Suleiman. They sharply criticized the Pakistani authorities’ treatment of their father.
Some reports claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board, through the broadcast, considered not sending the team onto the field after the break. However, no boycott took place: the match continued as scheduled and ended with Pakistan losing by 194 runs. After that, the team was trailing 0-2 in the three-match series.
