Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has become the first high-profile Pakistan player to publicly comment on Imran Khan's continuing imprisonment, and call for his release. In an emotional interview on the Narratives podcast, recorded last week when concerns about Imran's health resurfaced, Miandad called upon the Pakistan government to resolve their differences with Imran, who has been in jail since August 2023, and offered to help in any way possible.
"I pray that what's going on with him gets resolved, because he does not deserve this," Miandad said, tearing up as he spoke. "What's being done to him is not right. It's unnecessary. He has a family too.
"I think about it all the time, what he must be doing [in prison], what he must be thinking of. We were so close. We used to be together and think so much of each other. We took Pakistan to such new heights. I can't help but feel so sad about it."
Miandad's comments are the first by a Pakistan cricketer that directly address Imran's imprisonment. Cricketers who played with him have spoken of their admiration for Imran as a captain - including Ramiz Raja, who spoke about his current health on the Stick to Cricket podcast - but have generally refrained from speaking on his current situation.
Miandad was a key contemporary of Imran's during their playing days, the duo widely acknowledged to have been the driving forces between Pakistan's success through the 1980s and early 1990s. Both men captained the side during that period and played together for Sussex.
Miandad spoke warmly about his relationship with Imran during his playing days, downplaying notions of a bitter rivalry.
"There was no rivalry between me and Imran. There was no fight between us. I've never complained that Imran wronged me in any way. I had a great career which I am very thankful for. Imran and I played county cricket together too, we were together for more than half the year, either in county cricket or with Pakistan. We had a great time together."
Last week, 22 former international captains signed an open letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting that Imran receive adequate healthcare in jail, and that Pakistan's court orders to protect his constitutional rights, such as family visits in jail, are honoured. Pat Cummins, the Australia captain, has also publicly backed those captains.
"There's so much respect in the world for Imran," Miandad said. "He has given Pakistan so much. We should think about that. We need to bury the hatchet. He's a former prime minister... God forbid, if something happens to him in jail, all of Pakistan will weep. And at that time, they will all ask why they did this to Imran.
"Just release him, what difference does it make to you? If something like this can happen to one of us, we'll all be upset. If something like this is happening to my brother, of course I'll be upset."