21 cricket captains urge Pakistan to give Imran Khan proper medical care
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Twenty-one former international cricket captains have urged Pakistan's government to provide imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan with humane treatment and proper medical care. The letter, dated August 23, calls for an independent health assessment and reinstatement of weekly family visits. The appeal follows Khan's transfer to a state-run hospital instead of a private facility ordered by the Supreme Court.
Key Facts
- The letter, dated August 23, was signed by 21 former international cricket captains and addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
- Signatories include Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, John Wright and David Gower.
- Khan, 73, has been imprisoned for the past three years on a range of charges.
- On Tuesday, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered Khan's transfer from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital by midnight on Thursday.
- Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, filed a contempt petition on Saturday after he was sent to a state-run hospital instead of the private facility.
The Appeal
The letter urges the government to allow an independent assessment of Khan's health, reinstate his weekly family visits and provide required medical treatment without delay. Four signatories confirmed the letter to Al Jazeera late on Sunday. Greg Chappell, who shared a friendly bond with Khan following their retirement from cricket, initiated the letter on both occasions. Clive Lloyd told Al Jazeera on Sunday that he contributed to the letter. Former England captains David Gower, Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton also confirmed signing it.
Khan's Detention
Khan, 73, has been imprisoned for the past three years on a range of charges. On Tuesday, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered local authorities to transfer Khan from Adiala jail to the privately run Shifa International Hospital by midnight on Thursday. However on Saturday, Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, filed a contempt petition against the government after he was sent to a state-run hospital instead of the private facility ordered by the top court. The letter follows similar outreach in February by 14 former international cricket captains who raised concerns over Khan's deteriorating health and alleged mistreatment during his imprisonment.
Signatories
The signatories include cricket Hall of Famers Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Clive Lloyd, Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, John Wright and David Gower. No former Pakistani cricketers were among the signatories of both letters, although several star players have publicly voiced concerns over Khan's health in the past. Gavaskar, Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar are the three Indian players among the 21, while former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga is the other South Asian name.
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21 cricket captains urge Pakistan to give Imran Khan proper medical care
