A bipartisan humanitarian appeal by 14 former international cricket captains including Indian icons Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev has intensified global attention on the health and treatment of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan.
The petition, delivered on 17 February 2026, urges the Government of Pakistan to ensure immediate and ongoing medical care, humane detention conditions and fair legal access for Khan, whose reported loss of vision has sparked international concern.
The appeal supported by former captains from Australia, England, West Indies and New Zealand comes amid fresh Supreme Court orders for medical examinations of Khan’s deteriorating eyesight, sharply divided political debate in Pakistan, and supportive remarks from former India captain Sourav Ganguly.
The Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) party has welcomed the intervention, while government representatives have not publicly acknowledged receipt of the letter. The case highlights urgent questions about humanitarian treatment, fairness, and “sportsmanship beyond borders.”
Global Cricket Community Urges Respect & Care
In a rare demonstration of unity across cricketing nations, 14 former international captains signed a letter titled “Appeal by Former International Cricket Captains”, addressed to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Signatories include Australia’s Greg Chappell (who led the initiative), Ian Chappell, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes; England’s Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Mike Brearley, David Gower; West Indies legend Clive Lloyd; New Zealand’s John Wright, alongside Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.
The letter expresses “deep concern” over Khan’s reported health problems and prison treatment, stressing that “a person of Imran Khan’s stature deserves … dignity and basic human consideration befitting a former national leader and a global sporting icon.”
It calls for immediate, adequate and ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists of his choosing, humane and dignified detention conditions, regular family visitation, and fair and transparent access to legal processes without undue delay or hindrance. The captains emphasised that the appeal was made “in the spirit of sportsmanship and common humanity, without prejudice to any legal proceedings”.
Among voices echoing the appeal, former India captain Sourav Ganguly publicly supported humane treatment for Khan, stating that as someone who “put Pakistan on the world map” on the field and in public life he “deserves to be looked after and respected” during incarceration. This collective intervention, crossing political and historical divides, underscores cricket’s potential as a bridge between nations even amid deep diplomatic tensions.
Health Concerns, Supreme Court Orders & Political Fallout
The appeal follows escalating concerns about Khan’s health, particularly his eyesight, which his lawyers and family say has drastically deteriorated while he has been held in Adiala Jail near Rawalpindi since August 2023. Khan, 73, was convicted in several cases including graft and corruption that he and his supporters describe as politically motivated after his ouster in a 2022 parliamentary no‑confidence vote.
On 13 February 2026, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered a detailed medical examination of Khan after his lawyer reported he had lost up to 85 per cent of vision in his right eye, likely due to delayed or inadequate medical care while in custody. The court directed that a medical board assess his condition, and allowed him to speak to his sons.
A medical board examined Khan on 15 February, finding partial improvement: vision in his right eye was recorded at 6/24 without glasses and 6/9 with glasses, with the left eye normal at 6/9, though signs of haemorrhage persisted. The board did not recommend an immediate hospital transfer.
Khan’s personal physician has contested claims that his vision has improved, noting limited access to the jailed leader. The lack of independent verification has fuelled debate over transparency and treatment adequacy. Critics including Khan’s lawyer and PTI leaders argue that his medical care and detention conditions are politicised, and that he should be allowed treatment in a hospital setting and consultations with his own doctors.
Khan’s family and supporters have raised broader allegations of mistreatment, including denial of visitation rights and adequate medical attention. While Pakistan’s information minister has maintained that Khan is receiving care and remains in “reasonable health,” political tensions have intensified, with opposition protests and allegations that the army establishment influences Khan’s treatment.
Reverberations & Broader Implications
The cricket captains’ joint appeal especially with high‑profile Indian signatories has drawn attention not just within sports circles but across diplomatic and human rights spaces. It signals global concern over humane treatment in custody, highlighting how figures once revered for sporting excellence continue to resonate across borders long after their competitive careers.
While Pakistan’s government has not publicly responded to the letter, its delivery to the prime minister’s office adds pressure on Islamabad to address the issues raised particularly as international cricket figures spotlight the country’s obligations under human rights and medical care norms.
The Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) welcomed the appeal, calling on the world’s cricketing community to sustain support for Khan until “justice and fairness are achieved.” Former Pakistan cricketers like Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar have also voiced concern, urging authorities to ensure Khan receives the best possible medical care.
Analysts suggest that this high‑profile appeal could influence not just public perception but ongoing judicial scrutiny of Khan’s treatment, adding external diplomatic weight to domestic legal processes. It also raises questions about shared human values transcending political divides, particularly in South Asia’s often fraught geopolitical landscape.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This international appeal by cricket luminaries whose careers spanned decades of intense rivalry and respect underlines a profound truth: our shared humanity should always eclipse political conflict. Regardless of political affiliation or legal disputes, the fundamental rights of dignity, medical care, and fair treatment are non‑negotiable. The world’s sporting icons are reminding us that respect and empathy the very spirit of fair play must transcend borders.
