A group of 21 former international cricket captains has issued a letter to Pakistan’s current leader requesting that imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan receive adequate medical treatment while in custody. The signatories, representing multiple nations, include notable figures such as Sunil Gavaskar and Alastair Cook from England, along with captains from Australia, India, and other cricket-playing nations.
Khan, now 73 years old, has been detained since 2023 facing corruption charges that he maintains are without merit. The former captains expressed concern that Khan was permitted only limited time at a hospital earlier in the week, where he underwent examination by a state-appointed medical team. According to Khan’s legal representatives, his right eye vision has deteriorated significantly during his incarceration.
The letter presented three specific requests to the government. First, the captains called for Khan to be assessed by a medical board overseen by Pakistan’s Supreme Court that would include his personal physicians, particularly regarding the reported vision problems. Second, they requested that weekly family visits be permitted without obstruction, as mandated by the court. Third, they demanded that any treatment recommended by the medical board be implemented without delay.
The signatories characterized themselves as former rivals and colleagues bound by their shared cricket history, emphasizing that this connection transcends national borders. Fourteen of the signatories had previously supported an earlier appeal for humane treatment submitted earlier in the year. Khan’s party has filed a separate contempt petition against the government regarding access to his own doctors, as ordered by the top court.
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court directed that Khan be transferred to a private hospital for examination by physicians. However, Khan was instead evaluated at a government-run hospital in Islamabad before being returned to prison. Khan, who previously led Pakistan’s national cricket team, served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and currently faces charges exceeding 100 cases involving allegations he disputes as politically motivated.
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