Kapil Dev won't attend Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony as Pakistan PM

Former India captain Kapil Dev will not attend Pakistan Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony scheduled to be held on August 18.

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

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Kapil Dev will not attend Pakistan Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony scheduled to be held on August 18. Imran Khan has invited former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Navjot Singh Sidhu for his swearing-in ceremony. Other than these three, actor Aamir Khan has also been invited. The former India captain turned down Khan's invitation citing "personal reasons". Kapil had earlier said that he would be happy to attend Khan's swearing-in ceremony if he gets a formal invite, which he did. On Saturday, Sunil Gavaskar had attributed his inability to attend the ceremony to a Test match in England on August 18. Meanwhile, Navjot Singh Sidhu is alllikely to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief. In a statement on Saturday Sidhu said he had informed the Union Home Ministry and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's office regarding his intention to attend Khan's oath-taking ceremony on August 18 in Islamabad. Sidhu has also informed the Union Home Ministry and office of the Punjab Chief Minister regarding his intention to attend the swearing in ceremony. He said that he hoped that relations between India and Pakistan would improve with Khan becoming the prime minister of the neighbouring country.