Twenty-one former international cricket captains have urged Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure proper medical treatment and humane conditions for former Prime Minister and legendary cricketer Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned.
The former captains sent a letter to Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressing deep concern over reports of a deterioration in Imran Khan’s health. Among the signatories are Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.
The letter said the 73-year-old former Pakistan prime minister has been in prison for more than three years. Reports of his worsening health, including reduced vision in his right eye, have raised concern among his former teammates and prominent figures in the cricketing world.
The former captains said their concerns had been heightened by reports that a comprehensive medical examination of Imran Khan had not yet been completed despite an order from Pakistan’s Supreme Court. They also expressed concern over alleged restrictions on his meetings with family members.
Against this backdrop, the former cricketers urged the Pakistani government to address the matter on humanitarian grounds and take immediate steps to ensure that Imran Khan receives appropriate medical attention and is treated with dignity while in custody.
The letter outlined three specific demands.
First, the former captains called for a comprehensive medical examination by an independent medical board that includes Imran Khan’s personal physician.
Second, they urged the authorities to ensure weekly meetings between Imran Khan and his family members without obstruction, in accordance with court directions.
Third, they called for any treatment recommended by his doctors to be initiated and provided without delay.
The former cricket stars expressed hope that the Pakistani government would take swift action to resolve the concerns. They also stressed the importance of ensuring both adequate medical care and humane treatment for the former prime minister during his imprisonment.
Imran Khan led Pakistan to its historic World Cup triumph as captain before entering politics and eventually serving as the country’s prime minister. His current imprisonment and reported health problems have now drawn renewed international attention from prominent figures in the cricketing community.
Source: Hindustan Times