{
  "id": 3229900,
  "title": "'State tried to airbrush Imran khan out of existence': Atherton on appeal for former Pakistan PM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/state-tried-to-airbrush-imran-khan-out-of-existence-atherton-on",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T09:22:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/state-tried-airbrush-imran-khan-092200214.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Michael Atherton, a former England cricket captain, joined 21 other ex-international cricketers in urging Pakistani authorities to ensure proper medical care for former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since 2023. Imran's health has been a growing concern, with reports suggesting he has lost vision in one eye, leading to the recent appeals for his medical treatment. The group of former cricketers appealed on a Sky Sports cricket podcast, emphasizing not just the importance of medical care but also the state's efforts to erase Imran from public life, a struggle they find increasingly difficult in the age of social media. The appeal also highlighted the political tensions between India and Pakistan, with several Indian cricketers, including Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, and Dilip Vengsarkar, signing the letter of support for their former teammate and friend. Kapil Dev explained that while Pakistani cricketers might be hesitant to speak out due to the political climate, he felt compelled to support Imran, a former prime minister and a top cricketer. The group's request is not to interfere in Pakistan's legal process but to ensure basic care and dignity for a prisoner who was once the country's prime minister and a legendary all-rounder in the world of cricket.",
  "summary": "In a compelling show of solidarity, Michael Atherton, the former England cricket captain, along with 21 fellow international cricketers, has launched an appeal for the medical treatment of ex-Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned. Atherton raised alarms about the efforts to diminish Khan's status, while Kapil Dev advocated for the essential rights of prisoners, urging…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Former player has been ‘huge addition’ to Michigan State staff",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/former-player-has-been-huge-addition-to-michigan-state-staff",
        "published": "2026-08-24T19:00:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}