Fourteen former international cricket captains, including India legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, have jointly written to the Government of Pakistan seeking immediate medical assistance and appropriate legal facilities for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated.
The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, comes amid growing concern over the reported decline in Khan’s health. The 73-year-old, who famously captained Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, has reportedly suffered severe vision impairment, with claims that he has lost significant sight in his right eye.
According to the petition, accessed by Hindustan Times Digital, the signatories have urged Pakistani authorities to ensure that Khan receives adequate medical treatment while in custody, along with full access to his legal rights. The appeal underscores the signatories’ concern for his well-being, irrespective of political considerations.
The letter has also been endorsed by several other prominent figures from the cricketing world, including Greg Chappell, Belinda Clark, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Ian Chappell, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Clive Lloyd, Steve Waugh and John Wright. Notably, no former Pakistan captains have signed the petition so far.
In recent days, several ex-Pakistan cricketers — among them Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi — have taken to social media to call for proper medical attention for Khan.
Concerns about his health intensified after reports suggested that he has lost up to 85 per cent of vision in one eye. Family members and supporters have also alleged restrictions on prison visits. In December 2025, his son Sulaiman Khan described his confinement conditions as extremely harsh, claiming he was being held in a small cell typically reserved for death row inmates.
Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been in custody since August 2023, following his removal from office in 2022. The former Pakistan captain faces multiple corruption cases and is currently serving a 31-year sentence after the latest court verdict delivered in December 2025.
The petition marks a rare collective intervention by leading figures in international cricket, reflecting mounting concern within the global sporting community over the former captain’s health and prison conditions.
