Australia’s ODI and Test captain Pat Cummins has lent his support, joining the former international cricket captains’ appeal to Pakistan authorities to give former Pakistan captain and ex-PM Imran Khan necessary medical care and give him humane treatment.
Notably, Imran Khan has been incarcerated in Adilabad prison since 2023 on charges of corruption. Several reports have stated that Imran Khan’s health is deteriorating by the day. Recently, 21 former international cricket captains had written to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, sharing their concern about Imran Khan.
Recently, Greg Chappell shared harrowing details on a podcast about Imran Khan, saying the jailed Pakistani great appeared frail during his recent visit to the hospital and spends much of his time in isolation and darkness.
“At the moment, he’s not getting any better. From a physical point of view, it’s hard to get information, but I saw a video clip the other day, I’m assuming of his latest trip to the hospital, where he was put into a wheelchair to get him from wherever he was to wherever he was going.
He didn’t look well at all. He didn’t look robust. He didn’t look like he could really get around very much. I mean, he’s 73 years of age, so obviously he’s getting older. But I met up with him in Pakistan six years ago, and he was still a strong, robust older man. That’s not the case anymore. His right eye apparently [has developed a disability]. He’s struggling. He’s been in isolation for three years,” Chappell said on the Grade Cricketer podcast.
Playing against Imran during their international careers, Chappell questioned how anyone could handle such seclusion.
“I don’t know how anyone deals with that. Imran is as strong physically and mentally as anyone that I played cricket against. But I don’t know how you deal with absolute isolation for three years. He’s not, I don’t think, allowed to read books. He’s pretty much just got to sit there by himself. And he’s in the dark most of the time.
So that’s not good for your mental health. And as your mental health deteriorates, your physical health is going to deteriorate. He doesn’t have access, or his family doesn’t have access,” he added.
Now he has received support from Pat Cummins as well, who made an appeal that Imran Khan be treated with dignity.
“Adding my support here to GC and the other former international captains. I hope the court-ordered medical assessment is allowed to run its course and that family visits continue. I hope Imran Khan is treated with the dignity anyone deserves,” Cummins posted on X.
