Former India captain Kapil Dev has once again voiced his support for imprisoned former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricket legend Imran Khan, calling for humane treatment and adequate prison facilities. His remarks on 24 August came a day after 21 former international cricketers wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appealing for better conditions for the jailed former leader.

What Kapil Dev Said

Speaking to reporters at the launch of the Race to DP World India Championship, Kapil drew a clear line between legal proceedings and basic human dignity. 'I like to support our friend, whom we played with and admired for his cricketing skill,' he said. 'We don't know the law of the country; that's fine. But humanity and simply giving the facilities to a prisoner, whoever may be — and he was a former prime minister of the country and a top cricketer of the world — we want him to get the best treatment. What else are we asking for? We are not asking for anything else.'

Kapil also defended Pakistani cricketers who have stayed silent on the matter. 'I don't blame them because they have to live there in Pakistan,' he said, adding that those outside the country were better placed to speak freely.

The Broader Appeal and Its Background

The latest collective appeal was the second of its kind within six months. In February, a group of 14 former captains had written to Pakistani authorities raising concerns about Khan's health. That earlier letter had specifically sought medical attention for the former skipper and called for the restoration of family visits.

Khan's family has alleged a serious deterioration in his eyesight, claiming he lost nearly all vision in one eye due to alleged medical negligence during his imprisonment. Those allegations have not been independently verified.

A Friendship That Outlasted the Rivalry

Kapil and Imran were contemporaries during an era that produced four exceptional all-rounders — alongside New Zealand's Richard Hadlee and England's Ian Botham. Their on-field rivalry was matched by a personal friendship forged during a period when India-Pakistan cricket relations were marked by regular interaction and mutual respect, despite intense sporting competition.

That bond has clearly endured. Kapil's appeal is notably focused on humanitarian grounds rather than on the political or legal dimensions of Khan's case, a distinction he has been careful to maintain across his public statements.

Who Else Has Spoken Out

Among Pakistani cricketers from Khan's playing generation, Wasim Akram and a small number of others have spoken publicly in support. The majority, however, have remained silent — a restraint Kapil said he understood given the pressures of living within Pakistan.

With a second collective appeal now on record and the health concerns unresolved, pressure on Pakistani authorities over Khan's prison conditions appears to be building incrementally within international cricket circles.