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For the past few weeks, the health condition of the former Pakistan Prime Minister and captain of the national cricket team, Imran Khan, has continued to grab worldwide attention. Amid the rising concerns around Imran Khan's health, another former Pakistan National Cricket Team bowler, Wasim Akram, opened up about his personal relationship with Imran and his personal thoughts on the current situation.
For the last three years, Imran has been in jail as a political prisoner on allegations of massive corruption. The former Prime Minister denied those allegations, but the present Government of Pakistan has refused to free Imran Khan from prison.
Latest interview of Imran Khan's sons sparked controversies
Amid Pakistan's recent tour to England for a three-match Test series, a Sky Sports interview featuring Imran's sons, Kasim and Suleiman, sparked a row of controversy. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) briefly threatened to withdraw the team from the second match of the series, which was held in London at Lord's. Pakistan played the match, but the questions around the former captain remain firm.
Kasim and Suleiman claimed in the interview that their father was forced to live in a small cell without basic amenities like books, medical support, or proper air conditioning, even on summer days.
"Very small cell without any new books, for 23 hours a day, with no proper air conditioning in summer," it was claimed in the interview, which aired during the Lord's Test match between Pakistan and England.
Difficult to believe: Wasim Akram on Imran Khan's recent situation
Wasim Akram told The Athletic in a recent interview that, from the outside, he is only learning about the claims. What is actually happening with Imran, who is now 73, remains unknown to him. But like many other former cricketers, who played with or against Imran, Wasim Akram praise for the best for his former captain.
"I then read that the Pakistani government came up with how many visits he (Imran) has had, with all the numbers included, with all the phone calls he has had. But, you know, it’s difficult to believe, and hard to know what to believe right now," Wasim Akram said in the interview.
Wasim Akram explains his bond with Imran Khan
Cricket fans across the globe are well aware of the fact that behind the emergence of Wasim Akram with the Pakistan cricket team, Imran played a massive role. The former Pakistan captain used to share a very close bond with Wasim.
The bond between them was so close that Wasim Akram described Imran as his mentor and friend. As Imran is behind bars, there has been no connection between him and his former teammate for about three years, as Wasim Akram himself claimed.
"Imran Khan was my mentor. He’s my friend; I miss him a lot. I haven’t spoken to him for three years. It’s so unfortunate, politically, what’s happening with him. The court of law is the court of law. But as far as his health is concerned, there can be no compromise on that," Wasim Akram said in the same interview.
