International Players Voice Concern Over Health in Custody
Appeal Calls for Fair Treatment and Legal Transparency
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 17 — More than a dozen former international cricket captains on Tuesday urged Pakistan’s government to provide jailed former prime minister Imran Khan with adequate medical care, citing serious concerns about his reported health condition in custody. Moreover, the appeal, signed by 14 former captains and circulated to international media, called on authorities to ensure immediate and continued treatment from medical specialists chosen by Khan.
The campaign, led by former Australian captain Greg Chappell, stressed that Khan, a former World Cup-winning cricketer, deserved proper medical attention after reports suggested he had lost most vision in his right eye. Meanwhile, Khan’s lawyer recently submitted a medical report to Pakistan’s chief justice expressing concern over his client’s health and requesting specialized treatment. However, government officials previously confirmed only a brief medical procedure conducted in January at an Islamabad hospital and released limited details about his condition.
Additionally, the signatories, including former captains from England, Australia, West Indies, and New Zealand, expressed alarm over detention conditions and urged authorities to ensure fairness and decency. Consequently, the statement also called for transparent legal access and timely judicial proceedings, emphasizing that due process must remain free of political influence. Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 until his removal in a 2022 no-confidence vote, has remained imprisoned since 2023 while facing multiple legal cases, which he and his party say are politically motivated.
Ultimately, observers noted the international cricket community’s intervention highlights growing global attention on Khan’s health and legal situation, while Pakistan’s government said it had not yet formally received the statement but maintained that all inmates receive treatment under existing law.
