Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and 1992 World Cup-winning cricket captain, received backing from the cricket community on Tuesday as 14 former international captains signed a petition requesting the Pakistan government and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure the 73-year-old receives adequate medical care while incarcerated.
This plea follows reports of Khan’s deteriorating health.
The petition, accessed by Hindustan Times Digital, calls on the Pakistani government to ensure that Imran receives proper legal support in jail as well.
The letter, addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been co-signed by cricket greats like Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Ian Chappell, Allan Border, and others.
Despite this show of support from international cricket stars, no former Pakistan cricket captains have signed the petition. Last week, several former Pakistani cricketers, including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shahid Afridi, used social media to urge the authorities to provide Imran with proper medical care.
It was reported last week that Imran Khan has lost 85% of his vision in his right eye. His family and supporters claim that they have been denied visitation rights. His son, Sulaiman, previously described the conditions of Imran’s detention as harsh, stating that his father was confined to a small cell often used for death row prisoners.
Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been imprisoned since August 2023, following his removal from office in 2022. Imran faces a growing list of corruption charges and is currently serving a 31-year sentence, handed down in December 2025.
The petition, signed by the 14 cricket captains, expresses deep concern about Imran Khan’s treatment in jail and his health. It highlights his significant contributions to the sport, notably leading Pakistan to its first World Cup victory in 1992, and stresses that, regardless of political views, he deserves dignity and humane treatment in prison.
The petition urges the Pakistan government to provide immediate and ongoing medical care from qualified specialists of Imran’s choosing, humane detention conditions, and access to fair legal processes, including family visits.
The cricket community, united by mutual respect and shared experiences, is calling for justice and decency for Imran Khan, emphasising that these values extend beyond the cricket field.
