Former International Cricket Captains Urge Pakistan to Provide Medical Care for Imran Khan

Twenty-one former international cricket captains have sent a letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requesting that imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan receive independent medical care and humane treatment. The signatories, which include Indian legends Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, and Dilip Vengsarkar, as well as former captains from England, Australia, and Sri Lanka, expressed concern over reports that Khan has suffered a significant loss of vision in one eye. The group requested that the government allow a court-directed medical board, including Khan's personal physicians and his sister, to complete a full assessment of his health and that any recommended treatment be provided without delay.

The appeal follows a dispute regarding a recent medical examination. While the Supreme Court had ordered Khan's transfer to a private facility, reports indicate he was instead taken to a state-run hospital for only a few hours before being returned to Adiala Jail. The former captains noted that this process fell short of the court's orders. Additionally, the group requested that weekly family visits be reinstated without administrative delay.

This is the second such appeal from the cricket community, following an initial letter sent in February by 14 former captains. The signatories described their appeal as being based on a bond forged on the cricket field that transcends national borders and political disputes. Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been imprisoned since 2023 on various charges, including corruption. While state doctors declared him medically fit, his family and legal team have contested the validity of the examination.