Imran Khan, Pakistan’s World Cup-winning captain and former Prime Minister, has drawn strong support from the international cricket community after reports highlighted serious health issues during his imprisonment at Adiala Jail. A detailed document prepared by Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae Salman Safdar has revealed troubling claims about his medical condition and treatment in custody.
According to the report, Imran Khan has allegedly lost nearly 85 per cent of the vision in his right eye after prison authorities failed to respond to repeated medical complaints for several months. The findings have sparked widespread concern among former teammates and cricketing figures across the world, who believe his health has significantly deteriorated during his prolonged solitary confinement.
Cricket Fraternity Unites In Support
Following the revelations, several former cricketers who shared the field with Imran Khan came forward to appeal to the Pakistan government for improved prison conditions and urgent medical attention. Among them was former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who expressed deep distress over the situation.
“It’s terrible what they are doing to him. We have been friends since he was trying to qualify as an overseas player for Worcestershire and not just rivals on the field,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. His remarks reflected not only sporting rivalry but also a long-standing personal bond that goes back decades. The cricketing world, which once witnessed fierce contests between these legends, now stands united in concern for the former Pakistani captain’s well-being.
Petition To Pakistan Government
A formal petition highlighting Imran Khan’s health and prison conditions was initiated by former India coach Greg Chappell and delivered to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The appeal has received support from several prominent cricketing names, including Kapil Dev, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Kim Hughes, Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Mike Brearley, David Gower, Clive Lloyd, and John Wright.
In their collective statement, the former captains wrote, “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.”
They further added, “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 Khan’s stature deserves to be treated with the dignity and basic human consideration befitting a former national leader and a global sporting icon.”
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