Fourteen former international cricket captains from five Test-playing nations have issued a public appeal to Pakistan’s government, urging improved prison treatment and medical care for former prime minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan, amid serious concerns over his health.
The petition, drafted by former Australian captain Greg Chappell, was formally delivered to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday. Signatories include Indian cricket icons Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev; Australian legends Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, and Kim Hughes; England’s Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Mike Brearley, and David Gower; West Indies’ Clive Lloyd; and New Zealand’s John Wright.
“Recent reports concerning his health—particularly the alarming deterioration of his vision while in custody—and the conditions of his imprisonment over the past two and a half years have caused us profound concern,” the former captains wrote in the petition.
The letter emphasizes that Imran Khan’s status as a former national leader and cricket icon warrants humane treatment. “As fellow cricketers who understand the values of fair play, honour, and respect that transcend the boundary rope, we believe that a person of Imran Khan’s stature deserves to be treated with the dignity and basic human consideration befitting a former national leader and a global sporting icon,” it states.
Chappell highlighted reports of Imran’s worsening health in Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, where he has been held since his incarceration on corruption charges in 2023. The petition calls for immediate, ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists chosen by Khan, humane prison conditions, regular family visits, and fair legal access without obstruction.
Sunil Gavaskar, reflecting on his personal relationship with Khan, said, “It’s terrible what they are doing to him. We have been friends since he was trying to qualify as an overseas player for Worcestershire and not just rivals on the field.”
Supporters have cited Imran Khan’s significant vision loss in his right eye and restricted access to family and physicians as critical concerns. His son, Sulaiman, described harsh conditions, saying, “He’s in a very small cell, sometimes called a ‘death cell.’ Electricity is often cut off, and he is denied reading materials.”
Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, has been incarcerated since August 2023 following his political ouster. His recent convictions on corruption charges carry a combined jail term of 31 years. Earlier calls for urgent medical support were also made by Pakistan cricket legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis after reports of severe vision deterioration surfaced.
