Former international cricket captains urge Pakistan government to ensure healthcare for Imran Khan

A group of 21 former international cricket captains, including India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, signed a letter to Pakistan’s government on Sunday regarding the healthcare of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

Khan has been in prison since 2023 and was sentenced late last year along with his wife to 17 years on corruption charges they both deny.

The 73-year-old, who was also a former Pakistan cricket captain, was transferred back to jail on Friday hours after he was taken to hospital for court-ordered medical checks.

The Supreme Court had ordered earlier in the week that Khan be taken to the private Shifa International Hospital in the capital Islamabad for treatment after his lawyers filed a petition over health concerns.

The cricket captains’ statement, which followed an earlier letter in February about Khan’s medical treatment, laid out three requests.

Firstly, they asked that the medical board directed by the Supreme Court “be permitted to complete a full and independent assessment” of Khan’s health, “particularly the reported loss of vision in his right eye”.