Former Cricket Captains Urge Pakistan to Ensure Imran Khan Receives Medical Care

A group of 21 former international cricket captains, including Indian legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, has urged Pakistan’s government to ensure that jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan receives proper medical treatment.

The former captains issued their appeal on Sunday, raising concerns over Khan’s health and asking authorities to follow through on medical measures ordered by Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since 2023 and was sentenced late last year to 17 years in prison alongside his wife in a corruption case. Both have denied the allegations and maintain that the cases against them are politically motivated.

The former Pakistan cricket captain was transferred back to prison on Friday, shortly after being taken to hospital for court-ordered medical examinations.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ordered that Khan be taken to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad after his lawyers petitioned the court over concerns about his health.

In their latest letter, the former cricket leaders made three specific requests. They called for the medical board appointed under the Supreme Court’s direction to conduct a full and independent assessment of Khan’s condition, with particular attention to reports that he has lost vision in his right eye.

They also called for weekly meetings between Khan and his family, previously ordered by the court, to resume without interruption or administrative delays.

The former captains further urged authorities to ensure that any treatment recommended following the medical examination is provided without delay.

The letter follows an earlier appeal sent in February concerning Khan’s medical care.

The signatories included several prominent former international captains. From India, Dilip Vengsarkar joined Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. Former England captains Michael Atherton, Michael Brearley, Nasser Hussain, Andrew Strauss and David Gower also signed the statement.

Australia was represented by Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh and Kim Hughes. Clive Lloyd signed on behalf of the West Indies, while New Zealand’s former captain John Wright was also among the signatories.

Khan served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until 2022, when he was removed through a parliamentary no-confidence vote amid growing political tensions.

His subsequent arrest in May 2023 sparked widespread protests across Pakistan, some of which became violent and resulted in hundreds of arrests.

Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have repeatedly rejected the cases against him as politically driven. His supporters continue to call for his release and raise concerns about his treatment in prison.