Former cricket captains appeal to Pakistan over Khan’s health care

Twenty-one former international cricket captains, including Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, have called on Pakistan's government to address the health care of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan has been incarcerated since 2023, alongside his wife, after receiving a 17-year sentence for corruption charges they both deny. The 73-year-old cricket legend, who also captained Pakistan, was recently hospitalized for court-mandated medical examinations.

The former cricket captains, who signed a letter to Pakistan's government on Sunday, outlined three requests. First, they demanded that the medical board ordered by the Supreme Court be given full and impartial access to Khan's health. Secondly, they urged the reinstatement of weekly family visits, which the court had previously allowed. Lastly, they emphasized that any subsequent treatment must be administered promptly.

The letter's signatories include notable cricket figures from India, England, Australia, West Indies, and New Zealand. Imran Khan served as Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 before being removed due to a no-confidence vote amid political tensions with Pakistan's military. Since his arrest, Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, have maintained that the corruption charges are politically motivated.

His removal from office sparked nationwide protests in May 2023, some of which turned violent and resulted in hundreds of arrests.