As many as 14 former cricket captains worldwide, including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, have demanded that former Pakistan PM and former captain of Pakistan’s cricket team Imran Khan be treated humanely in prison.
The Tribune can exclusively add that former Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga also wants to add his name to the list.
“It’s a heartfelt request to the authorities there to give him proper medical care,” Gavaskar told this newspaper.
Gavaskar said Greg Chappell, the Australian skipper, had messaged him to ask if he could join the appeal in the wake of reports that Khan had lost 85 per cent vision in his right eye since he was thrown into prison in August 2023. Gavaskar said ‘yes’.
The head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran was once catapulted into Pakistan’s top job by the powerful army, which controls that country’s both purse-strings as well as power.
Nearly three years ago, though, Imran fell out with the military establishment and was incarcerated in Rawalpindi jail. The court-appointed lawyer recently claimed the former PM had lost 85 per cent vision in his right eye, because the authorities refused to pay heed to his complaints.
“We, the undersigned former captains of our national cricket teams, write with deep concern regarding the reported treatment and incarceration conditions of Imran Khan, the distinguished former captain of Pakistan and a legendary figure in world cricket,” the letter reads.
Those who have signed on to the letter appeal, besides the former Indian skippers, are Australian greats Allan Border, Ian and Greg Chappell, Steve Waugh and Belinda Clark; New Zealander John Wright; England’s Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Mike Brearley and David Gower; and West Indian great Clive Lloyd.
In the furore that followed the Pakistani lawyer’s claims, a medical board was constituted by the Pakistan Supreme Court. The board has since claimed that Imran’s condition is improving. Rumours are that he has been secretly moved to a hospital.
The open letter by the cricketers states: “Many of us competed against him, shared the field with him, or grew up idolising his all-round brilliance, charisma and competitive spirit. Beyond cricket, Imran 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.
“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. 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’s stature deserves to be treated with the dignity and basic human consideration befitting a former national leader and a global sporting icon,” the joint letter added.
The former skippers demanded that Imran should get immediate medical attention, that he be provided with “humane and dignified conditions in line with international standards and above all, fair and transparent access to legal processes”.
Gavaskar, Kapil among 14 skippers bat for Imran
