Uproar in Melbourne over ‘Free Imran Khan’ T-shirt: First stopped, then given entry citing ‘humanitarian issue’; Gavaskar-Kapil Dev also in support!

Controversy erupted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground when a fan was stopped from entering the stadium simply because he was wearing a T-shirt supporting former Pakistan captain Imran Khan. However, after the matter escalated and the intervention of international giants, the authorities had to change their decision. This incident happened at the Junction Oval on the first day of the Sheffield Shield final being played between Victoria and South Australia. Security personnel put ‘political’ label, fans shocked. According to the report of ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, when a cricket lover named Luke Brown reached the stadium, the security personnel stopped him at the gate. ‘Free Imran Khan’ was written on his T-shirt. The security personnel argued that this was a ‘political statement’, which could not be allowed inside the ground. Luke Brown expressed surprise at this, saying, “I was stunned when I was stopped. I know they have to follow the rules, but this was unexpected for me.” Cricket Australia’s U-turn: Now the matter becomes a ‘humanitarian issue’ After the initial strictness, when the situation was reviewed, there was a lot of softness in the stance of Cricket Australia (CA). The board spokesperson issued a statement saying that they are no longer looking at it through a political lens. The spokesperson said, “There is deep concern in the cricket world about the health and well-being of Imran Khan. We are now considering this as a humanitarian issue and on the basis of that the fans will be allowed.” The controversy, with the support of 14 captains including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, has come at a time when veteran cricketers from all over the world have come out in support of Imran Khan. Recently, 14 former international captains including India’s Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Australia’s Greg Chappell have signed a joint petition. In this petition, the Government of Pakistan has been requested to provide proper medical facilities and human dignity to the former Prime Minister and cricket legend who is in jail since 2023.