In an unprecedented show of international solidarity, fourteen former cricket captains from five Test-playing nations have formally petitioned the Pakistani government regarding the deteriorating health and imprisonment conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The collective appeal, orchestrated by former Australian skipper Greg Chappell, reached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office on Tuesday afternoon, emphasizing urgent humanitarian concerns.
The distinguished signatories include cricketing luminaries Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev from India, alongside Australian greats Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, and Kim Hughes. The petition further gained support from England’s Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Mike Brearley, and David Gower, complemented by West Indies’ Clive Lloyd and New Zealand’s John Wright.
Their formal communication references ‘profound concern’ regarding recent reports about Khan’s health, specifically noting alarming vision deterioration during his confinement at Rawalpindi’s Adiala prison. The former captains articulated that Khan’s global stature as both a sporting icon and former national leader warrants dignified treatment aligned with international standards of human rights.
The petition outlines three critical demands: immediate access to specialized medical care from physicians of Khan’s choosing, implementation of humane detention conditions permitting regular family visits, and assurance of transparent legal processes without unnecessary delays.
Supporting accounts reveal Khan has suffered approximately 85% vision loss in his right eye while facing restricted access to personal physicians. His son Sulaiman described the former PM’s confinement in a small, historically designated ‘death row’ cell with intermittent electricity and reading material restrictions.
This development follows earlier appeals from Pakistani cricket legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis regarding Khan’s urgent medical needs. Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have remained incarcerated since August 2023 following corruption convictions resulting in cumulative 31-year sentences, subsequent to his political ouster.