A group of 14 cricket greats have demanded better treatment in prison for Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Khan captained Pakistan to the men’s Cricket World Cup title in 1992 before serving as the nation’s Prime Minister between 2018 and 2022, but he has been imprisoned since August 2023.
Khan, 73, was convicted in a string of cases relating to various charges of corruption and revealing state secrets. He has denied all the charges and has been acquitted in some cases.
Concerns have emerged over Khan’s treatment in prison, with his lawyer telling Pakistan’s Supreme Court last week that he had lost 85 percent of the vision in his right eye because of delayed treatment while in custody.
Despite tense political relations between India and Pakistan, former India captains Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev are now among a group of distinguished former players who have signed a petition, released on Tuesday and verified by The Athletic, demanding better conditions for Khan.
The open letter, also signed by former England quartet Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Mike Brearley and David Gower, writes of their “deep concern” for Khan’s well-being, including the “alarming deterioration of his vision while in custody”.
“Many of us competed against him, shared the field with him, or grew up idolizing his all-round brilliance, charisma, and competitive spirit,” the letter read.
“He remains one of the finest all-rounders and captains the sport has ever seen, earning respect from players, fans, and administrators alike.
“Beyond cricket, Imran Khan served as Prime Minister of Pakistan, leading his nation during a challenging period. Regardless of political perspectives, he holds the honour of having been democratically elected to the highest office in his country.”
The letter called for Khan to be allowed “immediate, adequate and ongoing” medical attention from qualified specialists, to have “humane and dignified conditions of detention”, to be allowed “regular visits by close family members” and for his “fair and transparent access to legal processes”.
The former cricketers added: “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.”
Former Australia captain Greg Chappell and his brother Ian Chappell also signed the letter, alongside ex-Australia internationals Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Belinda Clark and Kim Hughes as well as Clive Lloyd from the West Indies and John Wright from New Zealand.
The Athletic has approached the Pakistan government for comment.
Kasim Khan, Imran’s son, said of his father’s deteriorating eyesight: “This is the direct consequence of 922 days of solitary confinement, medical neglect (denied blood tests) and the deliberate denial of proper treatment in jail.”
He added: “We urge human rights bodies, legal institutions and democratic nations to confront this persecution and ensure those responsible face consequences.”
Khan’s sister, Noreen Niazi, has said her brother is going through “unimaginable mistreatment” in prison. “His medical complaints were ignored unduly and unjustly for a long period of three months while he was kept in illegal solitary confinement,” she wrote on social media.
Khan celebrates after winning the 1992 World Cup for Pakistan (Joe Mann/Allsport/Getty Images)
In December, Khan and his wife were given sentences of 17 years after a court found them guilty of illegally retaining and selling state gifts.
Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said of Khan’s condition on Saturday: “Further check up and treatment will be done in a specialized medical facility by the best eye specialists.”
Khan is widely-viewed as Pakistan’s best-ever cricketer, leading the nations to its first-ever Test series victories in India and England in 1987.
An accomplished all-rounder who in 88 Tests scored over 3,000 runs as a batter and took 300 wickets bowling, while his 21-year international career between 1971 and 1992 also saw him captain Pakistan to their One Day International World Cup title in 1992.
He later embarked on a political career, founding his own party: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), or the Movement for Justice.
As Prime Minister, Khan ushered in a new Pakistan foreign policy, moving away from the United States and closer to Russia and China.