Former cricket captains urge Pakistan to ensure better medical care for Imran Khan in prison

International Cricket Legends Appeal for Imran Khan’s Medical Care Amid Health Concerns

Fourteen former international cricket captains have called on Pakistan’s government to improve the treatment and medical care of former cricket star and ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan during his incarceration, as concerns mount over his deteriorating eyesight.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, cricket luminaries including India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev urged authorities to ensure Khan is treated with “dignity and basic human consideration.” The signatories expressed particular alarm about reports that the 73-year-old Khan has experienced significant vision loss in his right eye while in custody.

“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 cricketers wrote in their appeal.

Khan’s political allies and lawmakers from his opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party ended a days-long sit-in outside parliament on Wednesday after receiving medical reports indicating significant improvement in Khan’s right eye condition. The protest had been organized amid growing worry over Khan’s health after he was hospitalized for eye treatment in late January.

The cricket legends’ intervention comes amid conflicting claims about Khan’s health status. His lawyer, Salman Safdar, stated last week that Khan had lost approximately 85% of vision in his right eye. However, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi dismissed such reports as “propaganda,” while government officials cited medical professionals who claim Khan’s vision has improved significantly.

Khan’s family and personal physician remain skeptical, stating they need direct access to confirm his actual condition.

According to Australia’s The Age newspaper, the letter’s signatories also include Ian Chappell, Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, David Gower, John Wright, and Kim Hughes—many of whom competed against Khan during his illustrious cricket career.

“Many of us competed against him, shared the field with him, or grew up idolizing his all-round brilliance, charisma and competitive spirit,” the letter noted, underlining the deep respect Khan commands in the cricketing world. The group specifically called for Khan to receive “immediate, adequate and ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists of his choosing.”

The international appeal follows public expressions of concern from several former Pakistani cricket stars, including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar, who spoke out after former India batter Ajay Jadeja encouraged Pakistani players to voice their concerns.

Khan’s journey from cricket to politics represents one of the most remarkable career transitions in modern sports and politics. Making his international cricket debut in 1971 against England, he became Pakistan’s captain in 1982 and led the nation to its only Cricket World Cup triumph in 1992. Shortly after this crowning achievement, he retired from the sport.

Four years later, Khan founded the PTI party, eventually rising to power as Prime Minister in 2018. His tenure was cut short in April 2022 when he was removed through a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Since then, Khan has faced multiple legal challenges, resulting in his imprisonment in 2023 after convictions on charges of graft and other offenses.

Khan maintains that all charges against him are politically motivated. He has consistently alleged that his removal resulted from a U.S.-backed conspiracy involving his political rivals and Pakistan’s military—claims that Washington, the Pakistani military, and Prime Minister Sharif have all denied.

Despite his imprisonment, Khan remains a central and influential figure in Pakistan’s political landscape, with his PTI party continuing to command significant public support across the country. The international cricket community’s intervention highlights the ongoing global interest in his case and welfare.

Pakistani authorities have not issued an immediate official response to the cricketers’ letter, though they have previously stated Khan is receiving adequate facilities in prison—a claim his attorney has acknowledged following recent meetings with the former prime minister.