14 cricket captains of Test-playing countries call for fair treatment for Imran Khan
There have been reports that the 1992 Cricket World Cup‑winning skipper has lost approximately 85% of the vision
Indian cricket greats Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev have joined 12 other former international captains to express "deep concern" over jailed Pakistani cricketer‑turned‑politician Imran Khan's deteriorating health and have urged the Pakistan government to provide him with adequate medical attention and dignified conditions in line with international standards.
There have been reports that the 1992 Cricket World Cup‑winning skipper has lost approximately 85% of the vision in his right eye due to alleged medical neglect while in custody at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail.
14 former captains signed a joint letter titled "Appeal by former International Cricket Captains" to the Pakistan government, asking for fair and humane treatment for Khan.
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"We, the undersigned former captains of our national cricket teams, write with deep concern regarding the reported treatment and incarceration conditions of Imran Khan, the distinguished former captain of Pakistan and a legendary figure in world cricket," the letter said.
"Recent reports concerning his health, particularly the alarming deterioration of his vision while in custody, and the conditions of his imprisonment over the past two and a half years have caused us profound concern," it added.
"As fellow cricketers who understand the values of fair play, honour and respect that transcend the boundary rope, we believe that a person of Imran Khan's stature deserves to be treated with the dignity and basic human consideration befitting a former national leader and a global sporting icon."
The former captains asked the Pakistan government to ensure that Khan receives immediate, ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists, humane and dignified detention conditions, including regular visits by family, and transparent legal access without undue delay.
The statement was signed by Michael Atherton, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Sir Clive Lloyd, Stephen Waugh, John Wright, along with Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.
Imran Khan, the former Pakistan prime minister and 1992 World Cup captain, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a corruption case in 2023.
