New Delhi, August 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former India captain Kapil Dev has reiterated his support for former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan, calling for humane treatment and adequate facilities for his long-time friend who is currently imprisoned.
Kapil’s comments came after 21 former international cricketers wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking better conditions for Khan. It was the second collective appeal concerning Khan’s treatment in six months, following a February letter by 14 former captains expressing concern over his health.
Kapil, who played alongside Khan’s generation when the two were among world cricket’s leading all-rounders, said he understood why Pakistani cricketers might be reluctant to publicly comment on the issue.
“I don’t blame them because they have to live there in Pakistan, the Pakistani cricketers. But for us, we are looking from outside. Yes, I like to support our friend, whom we played with and admired for his cricketing skill,” Kapil told reporters at the launch of the ‘Race to DP World India Championship’.
He stressed that his appeal was not about interfering in Pakistan’s legal proceedings but about ensuring basic humane treatment for a prisoner who was also a former Prime Minister and a prominent cricketer.
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“We don’t know the law of the country; that’s fine. But humanity and simply giving the facilities to a prisoner, whoever may be, and he was a former prime minister of the country and a top cricketer of the world, we want him to get the best treatment. What else are we asking for? We are not asking for anything else,” he said.
Khan’s family had earlier alleged a serious deterioration in his eyesight, claiming that he had lost almost all vision in one eye because of alleged medical negligence. The February appeal had sought medical treatment for him and the restoration of family visits.
Kapil and Khan shared a distinctive bond from an era when India-Pakistan cricket rivalry coexisted with close friendships among players. They were part of a generation that also featured New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee and England’s Ian Botham, widely regarded as the four leading all-rounders of their era.
Kapil acknowledged that only a limited number of figures from Pakistan’s cricket fraternity, including Wasim Akram and some players from Khan’s generation, have publicly spoken about his situation.
He said he did not want to criticise those who had remained silent, reiterating that his concern was focused on Khan receiving proper treatment and facilities in prison.
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