Former international cricket captains, including Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar, have appealed to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for proper medical care and humane treatment for jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricket captain Imran Khan. The latest appeal was initiated by former Australia captain Greg Chappell and marks a renewed intervention by former international cricket leaders over concerns surrounding Khan’s medical care. A previous group of former captains had made a similar appeal earlier this year.
The signatories have asked the Pakistan government to ensure that the medical process ordered by the country’s Supreme Court is completed independently. They specifically called for the medical board to include Khan’s personal doctors and to conduct a full assessment of his health. The captains have also raised concerns about reported problems with Khan’s right-eye vision and called for the court-directed medical evaluation to be completed rather than relying only on a limited examination.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Indian signatories: Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar.
Initiative: Former Australia captain Greg Chappell.
Main concern: Completion of an independent, court-directed medical assessment.
Additional request: Regular weekly family visits.
Medical issue cited: Reported loss of vision in Khan’s right eye.
Three Key Requests
The appeal centres on three principal requests. First, the former captains want the medical board directed by Pakistan’s Supreme Court to complete a full and independent assessment of Khan’s health, including the reported loss of vision in his right eye.
Second, they have called for weekly family visits to be allowed without interruption.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The appeal brings an unusual cross-border cricketing voice into a sensitive issue surrounding the welfare of a former international sporting icon. The former captains have deliberately separated their request for medical care from Pakistan’s political and legal disputes, focusing instead on the completion of a court-directed medical process.
Third, they have urged authorities to provide any treatment recommended following the medical assessment without delay. The former captains have stressed that their appeal is not intended to intervene in Pakistan’s domestic political or legal disputes. Instead, they have framed the issue around ensuring that a court-directed medical process is completed and that Khan receives appropriate care.
Imran Khan’s Recent Medical Examination
The renewed appeal comes days after Khan was taken from prison to a hospital in Islamabad for a medical examination following a Supreme Court order. He was subsequently returned to prison after the examination. Reports differ on the circumstances and scope of the examination. The former captains have questioned whether the court-directed medical process was fully completed, while Pakistani authorities have maintained that Khan received medical attention and was found medically fit.Khan, who is 73, has remained in prison since 2023 and continues to face multiple legal cases. His political party and supporters have repeatedly raised concerns about his treatment in custody, while the Pakistani government has rejected allegations of inadequate care.
A Cricket Connection Beyond Borders
The appeal carries particular significance because many of its signatories played alongside or against Khan during his international cricket career. Before entering politics, Khan led Pakistan to its only men's ODI World Cup title in 1992. His career brought him into direct competition with several of the former captains who have now joined the appeal.
The former players have used that shared cricketing history to frame their intervention around his welfare rather than Pakistan’s political disputes.
For the cricket community, the episode also reflects how relationships formed on the field can continue to carry weight decades after players retire.
