Kapil Dev on Imran Khan: 'Today, I am his fan'

Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev on Thursday congratulated Imran Khan after his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the front-runner in the National Assembly elections of Pakistan, paving the way for Imran to become the next prime minister.

Kapil Dev (L) with Imran Khan. Photo: AFP (File)

NEW DELHI: Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev on Thursday congratulated Imran Khan after his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as the front-runner in the National Assembly elections of Pakistan, paving the way for Imran to become the next prime minister. Kapil, who had played several matches against Imran, said the 65-year-old PTI chief has today made him his fan. "Tough we both admire each other but today, I am his fan. He played fearless cricket for decades and won the world cup (in 1992) for his country. Later, off the field, he established cancer hospitals, which I consider to be his biggest achievement. And then he becomes the Prime Minister (designate) of Pakistan. For this he deserves praises," Kapil, said. After leaving the cricket field, Imran in 1994 built the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, a chain of Pakistan's largest cancer hospitals aimed at making cancer treatment accessible to every citizen. Two years later, in 1996, he launched Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which means the movement for justice, and with it began Imran's political career. The former India captain said he feels Imran would see things differently when it comes to the relationship between India and Pakistan because he has seen India "very closely". "He came to India many a times and has very close friends here. When a person travels so much it changes his approach. If Imran's perspective has changed then he has the vision that can revamp the attitude of an entire country," Kapil said. "If he has envisioned to change Pakistan for better then I don't think he will fall short of doing that. I hope he will work for the betterment of his and neighbouring countries," the former Indian all-rounder asserted. Kapil said it's not Imran's popularity as a player that helped him achieve this feat but he reached at the top because he had the capability to persuade people. "Thousands of cricketers came and went. They earned fame but could not accomplish what Imran did today. If he made it to the top post of his country, it's because he had something different than others. He had the passion to work for the country and love and affection for his countrymen," Kapil said. Kapil scripted history by stunning a star-studded West Indies in the final to lift the cricket World Cup in 1983 at the iconic Lord's, so did Imran in 1992 by taking his team, which could only win one out of its opening five fixtures, to an unprecedented World Cup victory in the final against Graham Gooch's formidable England team. The former Indian captain said it was Imran's "fairness" that worked for him in all these years. It was Imran who gave the call for neutral umpires during India-Pakistan games at the time when questions were raised over Pakistani umpires for allegedly favouring their team, Kapil said. "At that time he had said that Pakistan is a better team and could win matches no matter who does the umpiring. It was then I came to know that he thinks differently and has a fair approach," he said. Kapil, however, said Imran now will be on a different pitch with some serious challenges ahead of him, which will be distinct in nature than what he had faced on the cricket field. "After he has both position and power, what is required is the determination to work with a positive approach. Now, it's his responsibility to take the country ahead," he said. Talking about Indo-Pak ties, Kapil said efforts are required from both sides and suggested Imran would bring something new for the betterment of bilateral relations of India and Pakistan.