Lagatar24 Desk
Islamabad: Former India captains Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar are among 21 former international cricket captains who have written to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seeking proper medical treatment and welfare for jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan.
Letter Initiated by Greg Chappell, Second Such Appeal
The letter was spearheaded by former Australia captain Greg Chappell, marking the second appeal by former international cricketers advocating for humane treatment and medical care for the 73-year-old Khan. The captains clarified that they were not seeking to interfere in Pakistan’s domestic legal processes, but believed ensuring a court-ordered medical process was completed was simply a matter of basic decency.
Three Key Requests Made to Pakistan Government
The former captains outlined three specific requests. First, they asked that the medical board ordered by Pakistan’s Supreme Court, including Khan’s personal doctors, be permitted to complete a full and independent assessment of his health, particularly the reported loss of vision in his right eye. Second, they urged the government to honour the Supreme Court’s order allowing Khan’s family uninterrupted weekly visits without administrative delays. Third, they requested that any treatment recommended following the assessment be provided without delay.
Khan Briefly Taken for Medical Checks, Returned to Jail
Khan has remained in jail since 2023, with he and his wife sentenced to 17 years in prison on corruption charges late last year, allegations both deny. On Friday, Khan was taken back to jail just hours after being moved to Islamabad’s private Shifa International Hospital for medical checks ordered by the Supreme Court, following concerns raised by his lawyers over his health.
Wide Roster of International Cricketing Legends Sign the Letter
Besides the three former Indian captains, the letter carries signatures from England’s Michael Atherton, Michael Brearley, Nasser Hussain, Andrew Strauss and David Gower; Australia’s Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh and Kim Hughes; West Indies’ Clive Lloyd; New Zealand’s John Wright; along with Alastair Cook and Arjuna Ranatunga, among others.
Background: Khan’s Political and Legal Troubles
Khan served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 before being removed through a no-confidence vote amid a political crisis involving his government and the country’s military establishment. Since then, he has faced multiple legal cases on corruption and other charges, which he and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), maintain are politically motivated. His arrest in May 2023 triggered widespread protests across Pakistan, some of which turned violent and led to hundreds of arrests.
