During a recent appearance on the Nadir Ali podcast, former Pakistan opener Imran Nazir made a startling claim that he was poisoned during the height of his career. Nazir disclosed that he had to fight hard to avoid becoming bedridden due to the effects of the illness caused by Mercury, which he described as a “slow poison” that damaged his joints over an extended period.
He went on to say that his joints were treated for eight to ten years, and he suffered for nearly six to seven years. Despite his struggles, Nazir expressed gratitude that he never became bedridden, having prayed to God to spare him from this outcome.
Nazir reflected on his experience, stating that people often remarked that he appeared well despite his suffering. He expressed doubt about the intentions of those around him, acknowledging that it was impossible to know when or what he had eaten that caused the poisoning, as the effects of the slow poison take years to manifest.
Despite his suffering, Nazir stated that he harbored no ill will towards whoever poisoned him, as he believed that saving lives is more important than taking them. He also thanked ex-Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi for standing by him and providing financial assistance during his difficult period.
The former Pakistan opener disclosed that he had exhausted all his life savings to pay for his treatment, but still needed one final procedure. Shahid Afridi came to his aid during this challenging time, and Nazir expressed his gratitude for the support he received from his fellow cricketer. He recounted how he had nothing left when he met Afridi, but the latter quickly transferred the required funds to his doctor’s account within a day.
“Within a day, my doctor received the money in his account. He said ‘No matter how much money is needed, my brother should get well’. He spent around 40-50 lakh. I was happy that he had told his manager ‘Don’t even ask about him. Keep sending how much money he needs. The credit even goes to my doctor that he never tried to cheat me. He stuck to the amount that was required,” added the former Pakistan opener. Afridi’s generosity extended to allowing Nazir to get the treatment he needed, with the assurance that he would receive the necessary financial support.
