- August 29, 2026
Javed Miandad Comes Out In Support of Imran Khan, Calls For His Release: ‘He Doesn’t Deserve This’
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Miandad has called for Imran’s release from the jail and urged the Pakistani government to resolve its differences with the former Prime Minister.
Javed Miandad comes out in support of Imran Khan. (Picture Credit: AP)
Legendary Pakistan batter and former captain Javed Miandad has come out in open support of his former teammate and captain Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023. Miandad, regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, has called for Imran’s release and urged the Pakistani government to resolve its differences with the former Prime Minister.
“I pray that what’s going on with him gets resolved, because he does not deserve this,” Miandad said in an emotional interview on the Narratives podcast. “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,” he added.
Miandad is the first Pakistani cricketer, past or present, to come out openly in support of Imran Khan.
In recent days, several former international captains, including India’s Kapil Dev, have signed an open letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting that Imran Khan receive adequate healthcare while in jail.
“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,” he added.
Miandad also discussed his relationship with Imran and stated that there was never any rivalry between them.
“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.”
About the Author
Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist at CNN-News18, where he has been covering cricket, football, and major sporting events from around the world since July 1, 2024. Driven by a passion for storytelli…Read More
August 29, 2026, 18:13 IST
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