Cricket Legends Demand Humane Treatment for Imprisoned Imran Khan

A collective of fourteen former Test cricket captains have issued a plea for the humane treatment of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. The appeal comes amid growing concerns over Khan’s health and the conditions of his imprisonment.

Growing Concerns Over Khan’s Well-being

The former Pakistan captain, who led his country to victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup, has been held in detention since August 2023, facing charges his supporters claim are politically motivated. He is currently serving sentences of 17 and 14 years. Recent reports indicate a concerning deterioration in his health, particularly his vision.

According to a spokesperson for Khan, Zulfi Bukhari, Khan’s personal doctor has been denied access to examine him, and he is reportedly experiencing a significant loss of vision in his right eye. Sky Sports reported on these concerns on February 17, 2026.

High-Profile Signatories to the Appeal

The open letter demanding better treatment for Khan has been signed by a distinguished group of cricketing figures, including:

• Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton (England)
• Michael Brearley and David Gower (England)
• Steve Waugh (Australia)
• Greg and Ian Chappell, Allan Border, Kim Hughes and Belinda Clark (Australia)
• Clive Lloyd (West Indies)
• John Wright (New Zealand)
• Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev (India)

The Times reports that Mike Atherton is among the signatories, emphasizing the need for Khan to receive “immediate, adequate and ongoing medical attention” and to be treated with “dignity and basic human consideration.”

Legal and Political Context

Imran Khan served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before being ousted in a no-confidence vote. He has since faced multiple legal challenges, which he and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, maintain are politically motivated. His arrest in May 2023 sparked widespread protests across the country, some of which resulted in violence and numerous arrests.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has requested a report on Khan’s living conditions at Adiala Jail, related to a case that has been ongoing since 2023. The office of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated it has not yet received the captains’ statement, according to Yahoo News.

Recent Medical Examination

Authorities have confirmed that Khan underwent a 20-minute medical procedure at Islamabad’s government hospital in January, but details of the procedure have not been released.

The former captains’ statement expressed “profound concern” over reports concerning Khan’s health and imprisonment conditions over the past two and a half years, calling for “decency, and justice.”