Former Pakistan cricketers maintain silence on Imran Khan

Debasis Sen, Kolkata

Amid growing support for former Pakistan World Cup-winning captain, Imran Khan, several prominent Pakistani cricketers who played alongside or under him, have opted to remain silent in order to avoid being drawn into a political controversy.

Revsportz tried reaching out to a couple of former Pakistan captains, now settled in the UK, for their comments on the growing support for Imran. A former cricketer, who led the Pakistan senior team in the past, on conditions of anonymity said, “I would not like myself to be dragged into this controversy by saying anything on Imran.”

He added, “Anything that I say about Imran will not be taken well back home so it is better to stay away from making any comment,” said the veteran cricketer who is based in London.

Another former Pakistani great based in Birmingham also remained tight-lipped on the matter. Imran played a large part of his formative cricket under his captaincy. But considering the current situation, the veteran cricketer did not wish to make any comment. An all-rounder who played alongside Imran has also chosen to stay off the record in his support, fearing he could face repercussions from the current Pakistan government and the cricket board.

Recently, several former cricketers around the world have appealed to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure that Imran receives adequate medical treatment while being in prison. The latest appeal follows a similar letter signed by 14 former captains in February, which went unanswered by the Pakistani authorities.

While prominent international players view their letters to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strictly as a “humanitarian plea” for a former colleague, any statement made by an insider within Pakistan is instantly viewed through a highly polarised political lens.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023 following his conviction in corruption cases. Concerns over his health have intensified in recent weeks, prompting his sons to push for better medical treatment. Last week, Pakistan’s Supreme Court directed that he be admitted to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad.

However, he was instead taken to the government-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for a medical check-up before being sent back to prison.

The Pakistan government has rejected the allegations that Imran has been mistreated in prison or denied contact with his family and lawyers. In a statement last week, it was said that he had received more than 900 visits from his family members, lawyers and doctors since his imprisonment in August 2023.

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Pakistan batting great Javed Miandad broke down while speaking about the imprisonment of his former teammate and 1992 World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan, making an emotional appeal for his release and insisting that the former prime minister was an honest man.

“He is an honest man. He is not someone who engages in corrupt practices, otherwise he would have done a lot of things,” Miandad said in an interview with the Narrative YouTube channel.

“What will happen if you let him out? Will he eat or damage someone?” he added, visibly emotional while speaking.

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India will begin their Women’s T20 Asia Cup campaign against Thailand on Sunday, with Harmanpreet Kaur’s side looking to put a poor run in the shortest format behind them.

India have been one of the strongest teams in the history of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup. They have won the tournament three times in the five editions played in the T20 format since 2016-17. However, their recent results have raised questions about the team’s form, especially against the stronger sides.

India have lost nine of their 16 T20Is this year. Their latest defeat came against Australia in the Women’s T20 World Cup, a result that ended their campaign in the group stage. The loss added to concerns over India’s ability to perform consistently in important matches.

Harmanpreet’s own form has also been under the scanner. The India captain played an important knock against Australia in the World Cup, but her overall campaign was inconsistent. Questions over her future in T20 cricket have also continued, making the Asia Cup an important tournament for both the captain and the team.

India are in Group A alongside Thailand, Hong Kong and Pakistan. After the Asia Cup, the team will travel to Japan for the Asian Games, where they will again be expected to challenge for the gold medal.

The absence of Jemimah Rodrigues is another issue India will have to deal with. The middle-order batter will miss both the Asia Cup and Asian Games, leaving India without one of their most reliable batters. Pratika Rawal has been added to the squad, but India will need their other middle-order batters to take more responsibility.

At the top, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma remain a dangerous opening combination. The bigger concern will be what follows them. India need their batters at No. 3 and below to keep the scoring rate moving and finish innings strongly.

Fielding will also be under focus. India struggled in this area during their last T20 campaign, with dropped catches and mistakes near the boundary costing them runs and matches.

Deepti Sharma will lead the spin department, with Shree Charani, Radha Yadav and Prema Rawat providing support. The pace attack has experience in Renuka Singh Thakur, while Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy and Nandani Sharma add more options.

Thailand will enter the match with some confidence after beating Hong Kong in their opening game. They posted only 120 for nine, but their bowlers and fielders defended the total well, restricting Hong Kong to 114 for seven.

When and where to watch India vs Thailand?

The India Vs Thailand, Women’s Asia Cup 2026 match will start from 8:00PM (IST) onwards and fans can watch the match live on the Sony LIV app/website as well as the Sony Sports network.

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India’s long-distance runner faces a doping investigation just weeks before Aichi-Nagoya 2026, after a banned fertility-related substance was reportedly detected in his sample

India’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games have been hit by an unexpected doping controversy, with long-distance runner Abhishek Pal receiving a notice from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

Pal, who has been selected to represent India in the men’s 5,000m and 10,000m, has been handed an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) after his sample reportedly contained clomiphene, a substance primarily associated with fertility treatment.

The development comes at a particularly difficult time for Pal. The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, begin on September 19, leaving the athlete with very little time to resolve the matter and secure his place on the starting line.

What exactly happened?

According to reports, Pal’s sample contained a very small quantity of clomiphene. The substance is prohibited under anti-doping regulations and is unusual in the context of an elite male distance runner.

The reported concentration was below 2 nanograms per millilitre, which has raised questions about how the finding should be assessed. Pal has reportedly already responded to NADA and is expected to seek a detailed investigation into how the substance entered his system.

A source close to the athlete indicated that Pal intends to challenge the notice, believing the finding has placed him in an unfair position.

However, it is important to stress that an AAF is not the same as a final doping verdict. NADA’s investigation and the subsequent proceedings will determine whether the case results in a sanction.

No provisional suspension so far

One of the key developments in the case is that NADA has not provisionally suspended Pal at this stage.

That means his participation in the Asian Games has not yet been formally ruled out. Nevertheless, the uncertainty surrounding the case could make his selection increasingly difficult to manage as the Games approach.

Pal is expected to push for an early resolution because any prolonged investigation could directly affect India’s final athletics preparations.

Why is clomiphene significant?

Clomiphene is best known as a fertility-related medication. Its detection in Pal’s sample has therefore attracted considerable attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the case.

Under anti-doping rules, the substance is prohibited because of its potential effects on hormonal pathways. The presence of a banned substance can lead to serious consequences, but the final outcome depends on the circumstances of the case, the athlete’s explanation and the applicable anti-doping process.

The current case is therefore still developing, and it would be inaccurate to label Pal a confirmed doping offender before the proceedings are completed.

Pal had earned his Asian Games place on the track

The doping controversy comes just weeks after Pal produced one of the strongest domestic campaigns of his career.

At the National Inter-State Championships in June, he finished:

10,000m — Gold

5,000m — Silver

Those performances strengthened his case for selection to the Indian Asian Games squad.

Pal also has proven continental-level credentials. He won bronze in the 10,000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, establishing himself as one of India’s notable long-distance runners.

His recent form and international experience had made him an important part of India’s athletics plans for Japan.

The Asian Games clock is already ticking

The timing of the NADA notice makes the situation even more complicated.

Pal is currently training in the United States, while India’s athletics contingent prepares for the Asian Games. With the competition beginning on September 19, every day matters.

An early resolution could give Pal a chance to return his attention to competition. A prolonged case, however, could leave India searching for an alternative in the 5,000m and 10,000m events.

For the athlete himself, the immediate battle is no longer against the clock or his competitors. It is against uncertainty.

Abhishek Pal: Key Numbers and Records

Category

Details

Athlete

Abhishek Pal

Discipline

Long-distance running

Asian Games events

5,000m and 10,000m

Asian Games

Aichi-Nagoya 2026

Anti-doping body

NADA

Finding

Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF)

Substance reported

Clomiphene

Reported concentration

Below 2 ng/mL

Current suspension

No provisional suspension reported

2026 Inter-State Championships

10,000m Gold, 5,000m Silver

2023 Asian Athletics Championships

10,000m Bronze

Asian Games start

September 19, 2026

What happens next?

Pal’s immediate priority will be to contest the finding and seek clarification through the NADA process.

The central questions will be whether the substance was deliberately used, how it entered the athlete’s system and how the reported low concentration should be interpreted under the applicable anti-doping rules.

Until that process is completed, Pal’s Asian Games status remains uncertain.

The Bigger Picture

For India, this is more than an individual doping case. Pal had emerged from the national championships as one of the country’s leading distance runners and was preparing for a major continental assignment.

Now, just weeks before the Asian Games, his campaign has been thrown into doubt by a finding that is both unusual and potentially career-defining.

Pal has not been handed a provisional suspension and no final ban has been announced. The next stage of the NADA process will determine whether he gets to turn his strong 2026 season into an Asian Games appearance — or watches the competition from the sidelines.

The post Abhishek Pal’s Asian Games Dream Hangs in Balance After Clomiphene Finding appeared first on SSI FANZINE.

Sri Lanka began their Women’s Asia Cup 2026 campaign in ruthless fashion as the defending champions thumped UAE by nine wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

After bundling out the home side for just 79 runs, Sri Lanka chased down the target with nine wickets and 12.1 overs to spare, handing themselves a huge net run rate (NRR) boost along with two crucial points. It also turned out to be Sri Lanka’s biggest-ever WT20I win in terms of balls remaining.

Dismal batting from UAE

After being asked to bat first, the home side completely faltered with their batting approach. Captain Esha Oza top-scored with 18 off 24 while a few others reached double figures. However, UAE were eventually bundled out for just 79 in 19.5 overs.

Impressive T20I debut for Chethana Vimukthi as SL pacers shine

Chethana Vimukthi, playing her first T20I, left an immediate mark with an impressive spell of 3/16 in four overs. She was well supported by her pace bowling partner Mithali Ayodha, who also picked up three wickets for 14 runs in 3.5 overs.

On a slowish Dubai track, where spinners generally tend to find assistance, Sri Lanka’s pace duo stood out, combining for six wickets while conceding only 30 runs in 7.5 overs. Vimukthi was also named the Player of the Match.

Attacking opening pair and huge NRR boost

Both Sri Lanka openers – Imesha Dulani and skipper Chamari Athapaththu – adopted an ultra-aggressive approach, adding 57 runs in just 5.5 overs.

An unfortunate run-out at the non-striker’s end saw Dulani dismissed for 25 off 18, but Athapaththu remained unbeaten on 48 off 25, striking at 192. The defending champions had announced their arrival in style.

With this huge win, Sri Lanka now have an NRR of +6.263.

Next Games

Sri Lanka – vs Indonesia, Dubai, September 2

UAE – vs Indonesia, Dubai, September 4

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