Ex-international captains renew appeal to Pakistan PM over Imran Khan's condition

A group of former captains from across countries and continents have written to the Pakistan government expressing concern over the medical condition of Imran Khan, the country's World Cup-winning former captain. This is their second appeal in a span of six months.

Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar, all former India captains, are among 21 renowned international past cricketers who have renewed their appeal to the Pakistan Government over Imran's health.

Initiated by Greg Chappell, the former Australia captain and India coach, the appeal was signed by Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Mike Gatting, Arjuna Ranatunga, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Clive Lloyd, among others.

The former cricketers have written to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following this week's brief medical examination of Imran. In all, there were 21 signatories to the appeal, which follows developments this week that, they say, fall short of a Supreme Court directive.

The letter — a follow-up to one sent in February by 14 former captains — was prompted by developments surrounding a Supreme Court order directing that Khan be transferred to a hospital for examination by a medical board, including his own physicians and his sister, Dr Uzma Khan, while also reinstating weekly family visits.

The former cricketers, most of whom have captained their national teams and earned civilian honours, pointed out that Imran's hospital visit lasted only a few hours, after which he was sent back to prison, where he has been incarcerated for the past three years.

Their letter makes three specific requests: that the court-directed medical board be permitted to complete its independent assessment; that weekly family visits be restored and that any treatment the assessment recommends be provided without delay.

Imran was examined by a state-appointed medical team rather than the board the Court had directed, declared 'medically fit,' and then taken back to Adiala Jail before that board could complete its work — a sequence his family and legal team say does not meet what the Court ordered.

"We're not asking Pakistan for anything unusual — just that a court order most countries would take for granted is actually carried out," said Greg Chappell.

The signatories, who describe themselves as writing "not as politicians, but as former colleagues and rivals who share a bond forged on the cricket field," are careful to note that they do not seek to adjudicate Pakistan's domestic legal processes.

The 21 signatories are Michael Atherton, Alex Blackwell, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Alastair Cook, Michael Gatting, Sunil Gavaskar, Lee Germon, Adam Gilchrist, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev Nikhanj, Arjuna Ranatunga, Andrew Strauss, Dilip Vengsarkar, Stephen Waugh and John Wright.