ISLAMABAD: Fourteen former international cricket captains, including some of the sport’s most renowned personalities, on Tuesday issued a call to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to ensure that former Pakistan captain Imran Khan is treated with “dignity and basic human consideration” while in custody.
In an open letter posted on X, the group expressed deep concern over Khan’s deteriorating health, particularly his right eye condition, and the conditions of his imprisonment. The petition, drafted by Greg Chappell and signed by cricket legends including Ian Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Michael Brearley, David Gower, Steve Waugh, John Wright, Kim Hughes, and Belinda Clark, calls for immediate action.
The letter described reports of Khan’s declining health, especially his vision problems while in detention, as “profoundly concerning.”
Many of the signatories, who faced Khan during their playing careers, emphasised the significant contributions he made to the sport, particularly his leadership in Pakistan’s historic 1992 World Cup victory.
“Imran Khan’s contributions to the game are universally admired,” the letter read. “He remains one of the finest all-rounders and captains the sport has ever seen, earning respect from players, fans, and administrators alike.”
The former captains also highlighted Khan’s legacy as a former prime minister of Pakistan, noting the respect he continues to command worldwide for his leadership and his democratic election to the highest office in his country.
The signatories have called on the Pakistani government to ensure that Khan receives immediate medical attention from specialists of his choosing, humane conditions of detention, regular family visits, and unimpeded access to legal proceedings.
Ironically, the Pakistani cricketers, whom Khan introduced to the global stage and helped them turn into stars, have remained mysteriously silent. The letter follows growing alarm over Khan’s treatment, particularly reports of an 85 percent loss of vision in his right eye.
His family and party leaders have been denied visits for months, and requests for treatment at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, with his personal physicians and family have been consistently denied, despite a serious infection in his right eye.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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