Kapil Dev Defends Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Humanitarian Grounds

NEW DELHI — Kapil Dev, one of India's greatest all-rounders and a former national captain, has stepped into the international spotlight to express solidarity with Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan amid ongoing political turmoil in Islamabad.

Dev, speaking from his position as a respected figure in South Asian cricket, said he felt compelled to voice support for his longtime acquaintance, emphasizing that the situation had moved beyond the realm of cricket rivalries or partisan politics.

"I am speaking out for my old friend because this is no longer about cricket or politics. It is about humanity," Dev stated, according to reports of his remarks. The cricket legend's public intervention underscores the cross-border sporting connections that have historically linked India and Pakistan's cricket communities, even amid broader geopolitical tensions.

Imran Khan, who captained Pakistan to World Cup victory in 1992 before transitioning to politics, has faced significant political challenges in Pakistan following his ouster as Prime Minister in April 2022. The cricketer-turned-politician has accused Pakistan's military establishment of orchestrating his removal through what he terms a conspiracy.

Dev's statement highlights the personal relationships forged through decades of cricket competition between the two nations, with several Indian and Pakistani cricket figures maintaining ties despite often-fraught diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Islamabad.