The Spirit of the game was more important to him than winning. He was so keen to ensure fair play that even before the International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body of world cricket could take a decision he went ahead and introduced neutral umpires. He was never afraid of speaking the truth. For such qualities, he is still regarded as one of the greatest captains world cricket has ever produced.
So, when born leader Imran Khan took a plunge into politics, everyone thought he would be different from other leaders of his country. Everyone expected that under his leadership, Pakistan would be a different country, one that would not allow terrorists to use its soil. Instead of funding the terror groups, Pakistan would spend more on welfare projects for citizens. Based on his popularity among Indians, some positive steps would be taken to strengthen the bond of friendship and cooperation between the two neighbouring countries of south Asia.
All hopes vanished after the Pulwama attack. Not only Indians, but the rest of the world was also keen to know the steps Pakistan would take to wipe out terrorism from its root. So everyone was in front of their TV sets when the Pakistani Prime Minister made his first address to the nation after the barbaric attack. But Imran, who had conquered one peak after another in his cricketing days and always set high standards, had virtually failed to address the problem of terrorism in his comments. His address was no different from what his predecessors delivered after such tragic happenings. It lacked in vision, direction and failed to set up any roadmap to combat the menace of terrorism.
What did Imran say in his address to the nation? The Pakistani Prime Minister claimed that without providing evidence, India is blaming his country for the Pulwama attack. Moreover, he added that if India attacks Pakistan, the country would give a befitting reply. Both his statements can be countered easily. Firstly, what more proof does Pakistan require when the terror organisation JeM itself claimed the responsibility of the attack. Everyone knows where the JeM is growing. The entire world knows why the UN is yet to declare JeM leader as a ‘terrorist’ . Which are the countries opposing the move? Forget about declaring a person as a terrorist, Pakistan is yet to ban JeM despite knowing its activities. Even after all these facts, if Imran asks for proof, it can be safely concluded that the Pakistani Prime Minister is not the same person whom the world used to know as a fierce fighter on the cricket field.
Secondly, war can never be a solution. What India stated after Pulwama attack was that among various options to combat terror forces, destroying camps of terrorist groups situated on the other side of the border could be considered, which Pakistan has not yet done even after being asked repeatedly by almost every nation. Further, if India was keen to start a war with Pakistan, it should not commit itself to prepare grounds for comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan in a joint declaration with Saudi Arabia. Similarly, few other remarks of Imran can also be contested.
Clearly, it was not the same Imran whom the world used to know. By delivering such an address, Imran has belittled his image as a true sportsman before the entire world.
