Wasim Akram worried about Imran Khan’s health in jail: I miss him a lot
Wasim Akram has become the latest high-profile cricketer to express concern over the health of his former Pakistan captain and close friend Imran Khan, who has been jailed since 2023 after being convicted in corruption cases. Khan has denied wrongdoing.
Akram, who played under Imran during Pakistan’s successful 1992 World Cup campaign, stressed that his concerns were about the former captain’s health rather than the legal proceedings against him.
“I haven’t spoken to him in three years. It’s so unfortunate, politically, what’s happening with him. The court is the court. But when it comes to his health, there’s no compromise on that,” Akram told The Athletic.
The former Pakistan fast bowler said he remained worried about Imran despite not knowing enough about his current condition, while also expressing uncertainty about the information coming out of Pakistan.
“I speak from the heart as someone who is worried about him as a person. Convicted or not. Jail or no jail. We have to protect his health. We don’t know what’s going on, the government says his health is apparently fine. But I’m worried. I miss him so much.”
Akram also pointed to growing international concern over Imran’s situation, saying efforts had been made in England and elsewhere to improve his conditions, while questioning the level of response in Pakistan.
WASIM, MIANDAD AND CUMMINS JOIN GROWING FIELD
Among Imran’s former Pakistan teammates, Javed Miandad also spoke emotionally about his long imprisonment. Miandad broke down during the interview in defending the integrity of a man with whom he shared the Pakistan dressing room for years.
“He is an honest person. He is not someone who engages in corrupt practices, otherwise he would have done a lot of things,” Miandad said, questioning what harm could come from Imran’s release.
The concerns also prompted a wider response from the international cricket community. 22 former international captains have written to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging the authorities to ensure proper medical care and humane treatment for Imran.
Pat Cummins became the captain of Australia the first active international captain to publicly endorse the challenge. Cummins shared former Australian captain Greg Chappell’s comments and backed calls for a court-ordered medical to go ahead, while stressing the importance of family visits and treating Imran with dignity.
West Indies’ Brian Lara has also joined the wider chorus, joining a growing list of prominent figures in the cricketing world who are speaking out about Imran’s plight.
Imran, now 73, remains in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. But for Akram, the issue goes beyond cricket, politics and incarceration. Its appeal centers on the well-being of a former captain, teammate and friend whose influence on Pakistan cricket remains profoundly significant.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
08 Sep 2026 20:21 IST