Legendary Indian cricketer and ex-captain Kapil Dev, on Monday, August 24, 2026, reiterated the call for ex-Pakistan PM and captain Imran Khan to get the best medical treatment and basic facilities.
This comes after 21 former international cricket captains, including Kapil Dev, wrote to Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif for the second time, urging the government to ensure proper medical treatment for Imran following directives from the country's Supreme Court.
Imran Khan, who is incarcerated at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, was reportedly moved in the middle of the night to an Islamabad hospital for medical attention. On Friday, August 21, he was swiftly sent back to prison.
Even though the Supreme Court of Pakistan had mandated a comprehensive hospital stay until mid-September for significant health evaluations, including a critical eye problem, the government quickly released him to detention after ruling him "medically fit" in a couple of hours.
Although Kapil acknowledged that he was unfamiliar with Pakistani law, he emphasized that Imran should have basic amenities and be treated with respect, just like any other prisoner.
"We don't know the law of the country; that's fine. But there should be humility and basic facilities for a prisoner, whoever he may be. And he was a former Prime Minister of the country and a top cricketer of the world. We want he should get the best treatment. What we are asking for, we are not asking for anything else; we are not asking for any replies. We are requesting,” Kapil Dev said, as per PTI.
Other than Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, no other well-known Pakistani cricket player has openly supported Imran or demanded that the former captain of Pakistan receive proper medical care.
"I don't blame them because they are Pakistani cricketers and staying there, but we are looking from outside. I would like to support my friend with whom we played and admired his cricketing skills," Kapil said.
Imran served as Pakistan's prime minister from 2018 to 2022 and has remained in jail since his removal from office after being convicted in corruption and other cases.
