Fourteen former international cricket captains, representing five Test-playing nations, have penned an open letter to the Pakistani government, imploring them to ensure better prison conditions for Imran Khan. The appeal comes amid growing concerns for the health of the 73-year-old former captain and prime minister, who has been incarcerated for over two years.
The petition, spearheaded by former Australian skipper Greg Chappell, was formally presented to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday afternoon. It bears the signatures of a distinguished group of cricket legends, including former Indian captains Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, alongside esteemed figures such as Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, and Kim Hughes from Australia.
Adding their voices to the call for improved treatment are prominent English cricketers Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Mike Brearley, and David Gower. The West Indies’ Clive Lloyd and New Zealand’s John Wright have also lent their support to the initiative.
The former captains expressed their profound concern in the letter, stating, “Recent reports concerning 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.”
They continued, articulating their belief that “As fellow cricketers who understand the values of fair play, honour, and respect that transcend the boundary rope, we believe that a person of Imran Khan’s stature deserves to be treated with the dignity and basic human consideration befitting a former national leader and a global sporting icon.”
Greg Chappell revealed that he was moved to initiate the petition and rally support from the global cricket community following recent dispatches detailing Imran Khan’s declining health within Rawalpindi’s Adiala prison. Khan has been held in this facility since his conviction on corruption charges, a little over two years ago.
The signatories respectfully urged the Pakistani government to guarantee the following for Imran Khan:
- Immediate and Comprehensive Medical Care: Access to prompt, adequate, and ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists of his own choosing to address his reported health issues.
- Humane and Dignified Detention: Conditions of detention that are humane and dignified, adhering to international standards, and include regular visits from close family members.
- Fair and Transparent Legal Access: Unhindered and transparent access to legal processes, free from undue delay or obstruction.
The former captains underscored the unifying power of cricket, noting, “Cricket has long been a bridge between nations. Our shared history on the field reminds us that rivalry ends when the stumps are drawn—and respect endures. Imran Khan embodied that spirit throughout his career. We call on authorities to honour it now by upholding the principles of decency and justice.”
Sunil Gavaskar, a highly influential figure in Indian cricket and a respected commentator, expressed his dismay, stating, “It’s terrible what they are doing to him. We have been friends since he was trying to qualify as an overseas player for Worcestershire and not just rivals on the field.”
Supporters of Imran Khan have been advocating for his release on medical grounds, citing a significant loss of vision in his right eye, reportedly amounting to 85 per cent. They have also voiced strong objections to the denial of visits from his family and personal physician.
His son, Sulaiman, provided a stark account of his father’s confinement in December, describing his cell as “very small” and likening it to a “death cell” where individuals on death row have been held. He further detailed instances where electricity has been cut off and access to reading materials denied.
Sulaiman recounted his personal journey of concern for his father, admitting, “I hated him being in politics when I was younger. I was constantly worried because I would hear stories that his life was in danger. There have been two incidents already where he almost died: in 2013, he fell off a 20-foot platform during a rally in Lahore, and three years ago he was shot.” He added, “As an adult, I have a different perspective on it now. Selfishly, I would love to be able to see him and for him to be with us here. But I also want him to keep going, because this is what he sees as his mission.”
Imran Khan and his second wife, Bushra Bibi, have been imprisoned since August 2023, following Khan’s ousting from the prime ministership the previous year. He has since been subjected to a continuous stream of corruption charges, culminating in a 31-year jail sentence after the most recent verdict in December.
Another son, Kasim, shared disturbing details about the prison environment, reporting that the water used for showering is not only dirty but discoloured. He highlighted a particularly alarming statistic: “A dozen prisoners in that jail have died of hepatitis, and all of them were supporters of PTI, his political party.” Kasim concluded, “It’s psychological torture that they’re employing to try to break him. But he’s very, very tough to break.”
