Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Former Cricket Captains Renew Appeal for Imran Khan’s Care
Twenty-one former cricket captains wrote to Pakistan’s prime minister about Imran Khan.
Khan is a former Pakistan cricket captain and prime minister who has been in custody for more than three years.
The captains are worried about reports that he has lost much of the vision in his right eye.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court directed that a medical board examine him.
That board was supposed to include his own doctors and his sister, Uzma Khan.
The captains said a different state-appointed team examined him briefly and declared him medically fit.
Pakistan’s government disputed some of the allegations and said doctors from Shifa International Hospital examined him.
The former captains want the court-directed examination completed, any needed treatment given quickly, and weekly family visits respected.
Twenty-one former international captains from nine countries appealed to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over Imran Khan’s medical care and welfare in custody.
The captains said Khan was examined for only a few hours by a state-appointed team before returning to Adiala Jail.
They called for the Supreme Court-directed medical board, including Khan’s personal doctors, to complete an independent assessment.
The letter cited reported major vision loss in Khan’s right eye and urged prompt treatment based on the assessment.
The former captains also asked authorities to honor court-restored weekly family visits without interruption or administrative delays.
- Who
- Twenty-one former international cricket captains, including Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar and Greg Chappell, appealed to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding Imran Khan.
- What
- They requested an independent medical assessment, prompt treatment and uninterrupted weekly family visits for Khan.
- When
- The latest appeal was issued on August 23, about six months after an earlier letter signed by 14 former captains.
- Where
- The appeal concerned Khan’s custody at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and his reported examination at a hospital in Islamabad.
- Why
- The captains cited concerns about Khan’s health, including reported loss of vision in his right eye, and said the court-directed medical process had not been completed.
Former Captains, Family and Legal Team
Pakistani Government
Medical assessment
Former Captains, Family and Legal Team
The former captains, citing Khan’s family and legal team, said the Supreme Court-directed board, including his personal doctors, should complete a full and independent assessment, especially of his reported vision loss.
Pakistani Government
The government said Khan was examined by doctors from Shifa International Hospital and was declared medically fit; the articles do not establish that the court-directed board completed its assessment.
Hospital examination
Former Captains, Family and Legal Team
The captains said Khan’s hospital stay lasted only a few hours and that a state-appointed team examined him instead of the board ordered by the Supreme Court.
Pakistani Government
The government rejected allegations that the court order was defied, saying security concerns prevented Khan from being taken to the private hospital and that supporters had gathered outside it.
Custody and family access
Former Captains, Family and Legal Team
The captains called for weekly family visits reinstated by the Supreme Court to occur without interruption or administrative delays and urged humane treatment.
Pakistani Government
The government rejected allegations of cruelty, solitary confinement and denial of meaningful family contact, saying Khan had received more than 900 visits and was allowed weekly meetings with his wife, along with telephone and WhatsApp contact.
- Signatories
- The principal reports identify 21 former international captains from nine countries; one report described the group as 22.
- Recipient
- Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
- Subject
- Former Pakistan captain and prime minister Imran Khan, who is 73 and has been in custody for more than three years.
- Medical concern
- The letter cited reported major loss of vision in Khan’s right eye; an earlier report said his family claimed about 85% loss, a claim disputed by the government.
- Court-directed board
- The Supreme Court-directed board was to include Khan’s personal physicians and his sister, Dr. Uzma Khan.
- Reported examination
- The captains said Khan was examined for only a few hours by a state-appointed team and returned to Adiala Jail after being declared medically fit.
- Government position
- The government said doctors from Shifa International Hospital examined Khan and cited security concerns over taking him to the private facility.
- Previous appeal
- Fourteen former captains signed an earlier appeal about six months before the latest letter, with seven additional captains joining the new appeal.
Sources
Gavaskar, Kapil and 19 former captains seek proper care for Imran Khan
Gavaskar, Kapil and 19 ex-captains appeal to Pakistan PM for jailed Imran Khan’s medical care
Gavaskar, Kapil, Vengsarkar Among 21 Ex-Captains Appealing For Imran's Treatment
‘Imran Khan is 73 years old…’: Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar among 21 former captains in renewed appeal to Pakistan government
'Humane treatment and proper medical care': Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev among 21 former captains to appeal Pak PM for Imran Khan
Gavaskar, Kapil Dev among 21 former captains urging Shehbaz Sharif to ensure medical care for Imran Khan
Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar Renew Call As International Cricket Captains Unite For Imran Khan's Medical Care
