Delhi: In a dramatic and emotional intervention, a group of former international cricket captains has issued a powerful joint appeal to the Pakistan government, demanding immediate and proper medical treatment for jailed former Prime Minister and 1992 World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan.
The statement, released on February 17, carries the signatures of some of the most respected names in world cricket, including India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. The appeal expresses “deep concern” over reports that Khan’s vision has sharply deteriorated during his imprisonment and raises serious questions about the conditions of his detention.
“We write with deep concern regarding the reported treatment and incarceration conditions of Imran Khan, the distinguished former Captain of Pakistan and a legendary figure in world cricket,” the joint statement said.
Among the international signatories are Michael Atherton, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Clive Lloyd, Stephen Waugh and John Wright.
The former captains reminded the world of Khan’s leadership in guiding Pakistan to its historic triumph at the 1992 Cricket World Cup, calling it a victory built on resilience, discipline and inspiration that crossed national boundaries. They stressed that political disagreements should never justify denial of humane treatment or medical access.
The appeal comes shortly after Khan was examined by doctors on February 15 following complaints of severe vision loss in his right eye. The Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed that a detailed medical evaluation be completed before February 16. Although there were suggestions he could be shifted to hospital, a medical team instead visited him at Adiala Jail.
Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, raised concerns about how the examination was conducted. A party lawyer claimed that Khan told him he had lost nearly 85 percent of vision in his right eye.
Khan, who served as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, has been in jail since August 2023 and is facing multiple legal cases, which he describes as politically motivated. Earlier, his former teammate Wasim Akram had also urged authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment.
