KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has urged the authorities to give Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan “fair treatment”, saying he misses the 1992 World Cup-winning captain as a friend, mentor and leader.

Akram made the remarks while speaking on the “Old Boys, New Balls” podcast co-hosted by former England captain Ian Botham.

“We would like to thank all the captains that recently signed a petition for Imran,” Akram said.

“I feel for skipper, I miss him as a friend, I miss him as a mentor, we miss him as a leader. We haven’t seen his picture for three years,” he added.

Akram was a key member of the Pakistan team led by Imran Khan that won the 1992 Cricket World Cup.

“What we want from this government is to give him fair treatment, like other politicians had before,” Akram said.

“Fingers are crossed, Insha’Allah the whole nation is behind him and he’ll be out soon,” he added.

The former captain’s comments came weeks after 21 former international cricket captains renewed an appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for medical treatment of the incarcerated PTI founder in line with directions issued by the Supreme Court.

The development followed an August 18 order by a three-member Supreme Court bench directing Adiala jail authorities to transfer Imran Khan to Shifa Hospital for medical assessment and treatment within two days.

However, Khan was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also present, according to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

Tarar said Khan’s medical examination was conducted in the presence of his sister and his doctors.

He said a team of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, cardiologist and physician, carried out a detailed medical examination and declared Khan “medically fit”.

The PTI subsequently filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court, alleging that the government had violated the court’s order concerning Khan’s transfer to hospital.

Imran Khan, 73, has remained in jail since August 2023 after being convicted in several cases involving corruption and other charges.

Khan and the PTI have repeatedly maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated.

Khan entered politics after retiring from cricket and served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. His government was removed following a no-confidence vote in April 2022 amid a prolonged political crisis.

Since his ouster, he has faced multiple legal cases and remained a central figure in Pakistan’s political landscape.

Akram’s comments add to calls from former international cricket figures for the former Pakistan captain to be treated fairly and for his legal and medical matters to be handled in accordance with the law.