Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev Among 14 Former Captains Write To Pakistan PM On Imran Khan Medical Care

Fourteen former international cricket captains have jointly appealed to the Pakistan government to provide medical attention and legal access to former Prime Minister and 1992 World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan, who is currently in jail.

The petition, addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, comes amid reports of a serious decline in the 73-year-old's health during his incarceration.

Global captains unite over health concerns

The appeal carries signatures from several leading figures of world cricket including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, along with Greg Chappell, Belinda Clark, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Ian Chappell, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Clive Lloyd, Steve Waugh and John Wright. In their communication, the former captains said they were writing "with deep concern regarding the reported treatment and incarceration conditions of Imran Khan, the distinguished former Captain of Pakistan and a legendary figure in world cricket," adding that his contributions were "universally admired" and recalling how he led Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup triumph that "inspired generations across borders." They also noted that many of them had either competed against him, shared the field with him, or grown up watching his "all-round brilliance, charisma, and competitive spirit," describing him as one of the finest all-rounders and captains the sport has produced.

Reports of deteriorating condition in jail

The plea follows reports that the former Pakistan captain has lost nearly 85 per cent of the vision in his right eye. His family and supporters have alleged restricted access to him inside prison, with his son Sulaiman stating he is kept "in a very small cell, which has been described as a death cell because this is where they've held people who are on death row." The signatories said that recent reports about his health, particularly "the alarming deterioration of his vision while in custody and the conditions of his imprisonment over the past two and a half years have caused us profound concern," stressing that as fellow cricketers they believed a figure of his stature should receive dignity and basic human consideration.

Political background and legal situation

Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been in jail since August 2023 after his removal from power in 2022. Following a court verdict in December 2025, he is serving a 31-year sentence while also facing a widening set of corruption cases. The former captains emphasised that their appeal was humanitarian rather than political, urging authorities to ensure "immediate, adequate and ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists of his choosing," along with humane detention conditions, family visitation and "fair and transparent access to legal processes without undue delay or hindrance."

Wider cricket fraternity response

The international appeal comes after former Pakistan cricketers including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi publicly called on authorities to provide proper treatment to the jailed leader. Concluding their message, the signatories wrote that cricket had long acted as a bridge between nations and that "rivalry ends when the stumps are drawn and respect endures," adding that Imran Khan embodied that spirit and urging authorities to uphold "the principles of decency and justice," noting the request was made "in the spirit of sportsmanship and common humanity, without prejudice to any legal proceedings."