Ex-cricket captains urge 'proper medical care' for Imran Khan
BBC News reports that a group of former cricket captains, including Sunil Gavaskar and Sir Alastair Cook, have urged Pakistan to ensure adequate medical care for ex-PM Imran Khan while he is in custody.
Khan has been imprisoned since 2023 on corruption charges which he denies. The former captains expressed concern over his limited access to medical care, specifically mentioning an incident where he was examined by a state-appointed team for only "a few hours" at a hospital last week.
In a letter to Pakistan's leader Shehbaz Sharif, they outlined three demands:
- Imran Khan should be assessed by a medical board directed by Pakistan's Supreme Court, including his personal physicians, particularly regarding the reported loss of vision in his right eye.
- Family visits should be allowed weekly, as ordered by the court, "without interruptions or administrative delays".
- Any recommended treatment should be provided without delay.
The letter, initiated by Greg Chappell, emphasizes that Khan's age and prolonged detention necessitate proper medical attention. They conclude by highlighting their shared bond as former colleagues, transcending national boundaries and political disputes.
Khan, a former Pakistani cricket captain, served as the country's prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before his imprisonment on various charges, which his party claims are politically motivated.