Pak Batter Javed Miandad Breaks Down Over Imran Khan’s Jail Stay, Appeals For His Release

Pakistan batting great Javed Miandad broke down while speaking about the imprisonment of former captain and 1992 World Cup-winning skipper Imran Khan, making an emotional appeal for his release and insisting that his former teammate was an honest man.

Miandad, who shared the dressing room with Imran for several years and played a key role in Pakistan’s golden era, said he struggled to understand why the former prime minister continues to remain behind bars. Imran has been imprisoned at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since 2023 after being convicted in corruption cases.

“He is an honest man,” Miandad said in an interview, adding that he could not understand what harm could come from releasing his former captain. The 73-year-old became visibly emotional while reflecting on Imran’s situation and said he often wondered about what his former teammate must be going through.

Miandad also rejected the long-standing perception that he and Imran were bitter rivals. While acknowledging that they had disagreements during and after their playing careers, he said their shared commitment to Pakistan was always greater than their differences.

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan also urged authorities to ensure that Imran receives proper medical care while in custody. He appealed to the government and jail authorities to respect Imran’s rights as a former prime minister and Pakistani citizen.

Concerns over Imran’s health have intensified following a recent medical examination in Islamabad. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has questioned the process, particularly after the Supreme Court directed that he be taken to Shifa International Hospital and given access to doctors, including his personal physician.

The issue has also attracted support from former international captains and prominent cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Greg Chappell and Pat Cummins, who have called for proper medical care and dignified treatment.

Imran remains Pakistan’s most celebrated cricket leaders, having guided the country to its only ODI World Cup title in 1992.