Renowned cricketers worldwide have once again turned their attention to the health and treatment of former cricket legend and political figure Imran Khan. In a letter addressed to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, these players emphasize the need for appropriate medical care for Khan, who is currently imprisoned.
The appeal, which is the second of its kind in six months, was endorsed by 22 former international cricket captains, including notable figures like India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, as well as Australian legends Greg Chappell and Ian Chappell.
Imran Khan was recently taken to a government hospital in Islamabad for a medical evaluation accompanied by one of his sisters. Following the examination, he was declared fully fit and returned to Adiala prison in Rawalpindi. However, this evaluation procedure has come under scrutiny from the cricket icons.
“Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered that Imran Khan be transferred to hospital for examination by a medical board that was to include his own personal physicians and his sister, Dr. Uzma Khan,” the cricketers stated in their letter.
The letter expressed concerns that Khan’s hospital visit lasted only a few hours, and he was examined by a state-appointed team instead of the court-directed board. Consequently, he was returned to jail before the board could complete its assessment.
Khan, aged 73, famously led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup before serving as the nation’s prime minister from 2018 to his ouster in 2022.
While the former captains clarified that their intervention is not about influencing Pakistan’s domestic legal processes, they emphasized their connection to Khan through their shared cricketing past.
Earlier this year, in February, 14 former international cricketers voiced their concerns over Khan’s health, following reports from his family that he had lost significant vision in his right eye. The government, however, reported improvements in his condition after treatment.
Khan’s family and legal team have accused the government of ignoring a court order to have him examined at the private Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. The government countered, stating that security concerns prevented his visit to Shifa International, and he was indeed examined by private hospital doctors.
Furthermore, the government refuted claims of “cruelty, mental torture, punitive solitary confinement and medical neglect” towards Khan, asserting that he is a “convicted prisoner” serving sentences imposed by the courts. The Ministry of Information detailed that Khan has had over 900 visits from family, legal representatives, and other approved visitors, contradicting allegations of solitary confinement. Khan has also maintained regular contact with his family, including meetings and communication through phone and WhatsApp.
The ministry confirmed that Khan’s sisters visited him as recently as August 18 and 19.
For more on cricket, visit AP’s full cricket coverage here.
