21 former cricket captains appeal to Pakistan PM for Imran Khan's medical care

In an unprecedented display of cross-border solidarity, 21 former international cricket captains have written to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging his government to ensure that former Prime Minister Imran Khan receives humane treatment and proper medical care as directed by the country's Supreme Court.

The letter, dated 23 August 2026, is signed by prominent cricketers including Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sir Clive Lloyd, and Adam Gilchrist, among others. It follows an earlier appeal made six months ago by 14 former captains, which the cricketers say was not fully addressed.

The signatories emphasise that they write not as politicians but as former colleagues and rivals who share a bond forged on the cricket field — one that transcends national borders. Their latest appeal comes in response to recent events surrounding Khan's medical treatment while in custody.

According to the letter, Pakistan's Supreme Court had ordered that Khan, 73, be transferred to a hospital for examination by a medical board that was to include his own personal physicians and his sister, Dr Uzma Khan. The court also reinstated weekly family visits.

However, the letter notes that Khan's hospital stay lasted only a few hours. He was examined by a state-appointed team rather than the board the court had directed, declared 'medically fit', and returned to Adiala Jail before that board could complete its work. His family and legal team argue that this falls short of the court's order.

While the former captains acknowledge they do not presume to adjudicate Pakistan's domestic legal processes, they respectfully make three requests: that the court-directed medical board, including Khan's own doctors, be allowed to complete a full independent assessment of his health — particularly the reported loss of vision in his right eye; that weekly family visits be honoured without interruption; and that any treatment recommended by the medical assessment be provided without delay.

The letter describes the request as a matter of basic decency, stating, 'Whatever the legal and political arguments surrounding his case, the basic decency of ensuring a court-ordered medical process is actually completed is not, in our view, a controversial request.'

The appeal highlights the unique position of cricketers who have shared the field with Khan, a former Pakistan captain who led his team to World Cup victory in 1992 before entering politics. Khan has been in custody for over three years, facing multiple legal cases that his supporters say are politically motivated.

Signatories include notable figures such as Michael Atherton, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Sir Alastair Cook, David Gower, Nasser Hussain, Arjuna Ranatunga, and Stephen Waugh. Their collective voice adds international pressure on the Pakistani government to comply with judicial directives regarding Khan's healthcare.

The letter concludes with a hope that the matter can be resolved expeditiously and with the dignity Khan deserves.