Twenty-one former international cricket captains from various countries have once again appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging the government to guarantee adequate medical treatment for former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan.
This renewed appeal follows an earlier letter sent six months ago, in February, when fourteen former captains expressed worries about Khan’s deteriorating eyesight. The latest letter highlights concerns that recent developments have not complied with a Supreme Court order regarding Khan’s medical care.
The Supreme Court had mandated that Imran Khan be transferred to a hospital for evaluation by a medical board consisting of his personal doctors and his sister, Dr. Uzma Khan. It also reinstated weekly family visits for Khan. However, the former captains noted that Khan’s hospital stay was limited to just a few hours, during which he was examined by a state-appointed medical team rather than the court-directed board.
This state medical team declared Khan “medically fit” and he was returned to Adiala Jail before the independent medical board could complete its assessment. The letter emphasized the need for the court-ordered medical board, including Khan’s own physicians, to conduct a thorough and independent evaluation, especially in light of reports about vision loss in his right eye.
Additionally, the former cricketers called on authorities to ensure that the weekly family visits, as reinstated by the Supreme Court, proceed without any interruptions or administrative delays. They also urged that any treatment recommended following the medical assessment be provided promptly.
In their February letter, the initial group of fourteen captains had raised alarm over Khan’s worsening eyesight, with his family alleging near-total blindness in one eye and accusing prison authorities of neglecting his medical needs.
The signatories of the latest letter stressed that their appeal comes not from political motives but as former peers and competitors united by their shared cricketing experiences. They clarified that they do not intend to interfere with Pakistan’s internal legal processes.
The 21 former captains signing the recent letter include notable names such as Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Allan Border, Sunil Gavaskar, David Gower, Clive Lloyd, Arjuna Ranatunga, Steve Waugh, and John Wright, among others.
Imran Khan, who held the office of Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, is currently serving prison sentences following convictions in multiple cases. His supporters maintain that these cases are politically motivated, a claim the government denies. International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have also expressed concerns about aspects of Khan’s trials and prison conditions, allegations the Pakistani government repeatedly rejects.
