Fourteen former international cricket captains including ex-England skippers Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton have issued a humanitarian appeal for Imran Khan amid concern over his health in jail.
The 73-year-old former Pakistan captain, who also served as the country’s prime minister in 2018-2022, is currently serving two separate sentences of 17 and 14 years and has been held in detention since 2023. He is currently in the Adiala prison in Rawalpindi where fears over his well-being are rising.
A spokesperson for Khan, Zulfi Bukhari, spoke to Sky News on Monday and claimed that Khan’s personal doctor had not been allowed to examine the former cricketer turned politician, who is said to have lost 85 per cent of vision in his right eye.
In their joint statement issued on Tuesday, the 14 former Test captains from five nations – a group which also included England’s Mike Brearley and David Gower, Australia’s Steve Waugh and India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev – demanded better treatment for Khan.
“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,” read the statement.
“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 dignity and basic human consideration befitting a former national leader and global sporting icon.
“We respectfully urge the government of Pakistan to ensure that Imran Khan receives: Immediate, adequate and ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists of his choosing to address his reported health issues; Humane and dignified conditions of detention in line with international standards, including regular visits by close family members; Fair and transparent access to legal process without undue delay or hindrance.”
Speaking to Sky News, Bukhari also claimed that Khan had been in isolation at the Adiala prison for about 90 days and has not been able to see his family. Khan, who played in 88 Test matches and 175 one-day internationals for Pakistan, has claimed his convictions are politically motivated.
Sky News has contacted the Pakistani government for comment.
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