Cricket Legends Demand Proper Medical Care for Imran Khan
Former cricket captains from across the world have written to Pakistan’s new leader urging the government to provide proper medical care for ex‑Prime Minister Imran Khan during his detention.
The cohort, which includes Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar, England’s Sir Alastair Cook and Australian former skipper Greg Chappell, expressed concern that Khan – aged 73 – was permitted only a few hours at a government hospital last week. The facility was run by a state‑appointed team that denied him a full examination despite ruling that he should have access to his own doctors.
In their letter to Pakistan’s outgoing leader Shehbaz Sharif, the ex‑skippers called for the following: first, a Supreme Court‑directed medical board that would assess Khan’s health, especially the reported loss of vision in his right eye; second, unimpeded weekly visits from his family as ordered by the court; and third, that any treatment advised by the medical board be implemented without delay.
Khan has spent over three years in custody since August 2023, facing more than 100 cases ranging from alleged state‑secret leaks to asset misappropriation – charges his supporters claim are politically motivated.
The letter echoes an earlier appeal filed in February by fourteen former captains, the same ones who signed the current request. It underscores a bond forged on cricket grounds that transcends national borders and political disputes.
Khan’s supporters – who number in the millions across Pakistan – staged mass protests after his arrest. The government’s crackdown on demonstrators has drawn international criticism. The Supreme Court has recently directed a transfer to a private hospital for a proper examination, but Khan was seen by doctors at a government‑run facility and returned to prison before the board could act fully.
Related topics: Imran Khan, Pakistan, Asia
