“I endured suffering for nearly 6-7 years due to this"
Former Pakistan cricketer Imran Nazir has recently shared a disturbing account of being poisoned during his sporting career.
Imran Nazir, a familiar face in Pakistan’s cricket scene, represented the nation in eight Tests and 79 ODIs between 1999 and 2012.
Although he first spoke about his illness in May 2023, Nazir has now provided additional insights into the ordeal.
In a conversation on the Nadir Ali podcast, Nazir revealed that he fell victim to mercury poisoning.
“During my treatment, which included MRI scans, it was confirmed that I was poisoned with Mercury.
“This slow-acting toxin affected my joints, leading to extensive damage over 8-10 years.
“I endured suffering for nearly 6-7 years due to this, but I remained hopeful and prayed to avoid being bedridden.
“Thankfully, my prayers were answered, and I never became bedridden.”
He endured excruciating pain and spent up to Rs. 15 crore (£402,000) on treatments.
Nazir remained resilient, praying fervently to avoid being confined to bed.
He continued: “I used to go about my daily life, and when people would say, ‘You look well’ I had my suspicions about many.
“However, I couldn’t pinpoint when or what I ate to cause this.
“Poison doesn’t act immediately; it takes years to manifest. Yet, I never harboured ill will towards whoever orchestrated this.”
Nazir stated that the saviour was more praiseworthy than the wrongdoer.
He expressed profound gratitude to former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who offered invaluable support during his darkest hours.
Afridi promptly extended financial aid for Nazir’s treatment, ensuring that his doctor received the necessary funds promptly.
The gesture, involving a contribution of approximately 40-50 lakh, left Nazir deeply appreciative.
Since 2018, the 41-year-old cricketer has been absent from professional cricket. His last appearance in the sport was for the Kerala Knights in the T10 League.
This was alongside notable players such as Chris Gayle, Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow.
His fans have expressed their sympathy for him.
One person said:
“Of course he got poisoned, he was the most destructive opener of Pakistan.”
Another wrote: “I feel so sad for him. He would have been such an asset for Pakistan in cricket.”
One asked: “Why didn’t he speak out about this sooner?”
Another commented: “He must have had it investigated.”
Despite enduring immense suffering, Imran Nazir’s capacity for forgiveness and magnanimity shone through, illustrating his resilient character.
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