A coalition of 21 former international cricket captains, including Indian legends Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Dilip Vengsarkar, has issued a renewed appeal to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The letter urges the Pakistani government to ensure humane treatment and immediate medical care for former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has remained in custody for over three years.
The latest initiative follows an earlier letter sent six months ago by 14 international captains. Seven additional former captains have since joined the cause, emphasizing that their collective intervention stems entirely from their shared history with Khan on the cricket field rather than any political motives.
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In the appeal, the signatories raised strong concerns regarding recent developments surrounding Khan’s health. While the Pakistan Supreme Court had previously ordered Khan’s transfer to a hospital for examination by a comprehensive medical board—which was to include his personal physicians and his sister, Dr. Uzma Khan—the former captains noted that this mandate was severely compromised. According to family members and legal representatives, Khan’s hospital stay lasted only a few hours, during which he was evaluated by a state-appointed team instead of the court-directed panel before being returned to Adiala Jail.
To address these concerns, the former captains outlined three explicit requests to Prime Minister Sharif:
- Independent Health Assessment: Permit the Supreme Court-directed medical board, including Khan’s personal doctors, to complete a thorough and independent evaluation of his health, with particular attention to reported vision loss in his right eye.
- Uninterrupted Family Visits: Strictly honor the weekly family visitation rights reinstated by the Supreme Court without administrative delays or interference.
- Immediate Medical Treatment: Execute any treatment recommendations resulting from the independent medical assessment without delay.
The signatories stressed that they do not intend to interfere in Pakistan’s domestic judicial or political affairs. Instead, they described their plea as a simple call for basic decency and the fulfillment of a routine judicial order. The letter concluded with a call for a swift resolution that treats the 73-year-old former cricket icon with the dignity he deserves.
In addition to the Indian greats, the letter was signed by prominent international figures, including England’s Michael Atherton, Sir Alastair Cook, Nasser Hussain, and Sir Andrew Strauss; Australia’s Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Adam Gilchrist, and Stephen Waugh; West Indies’ Sir Clive Lloyd; Sri Lanka’s Arjuna Ranatunga; and New Zealand’s John Wright.
